Will Project 2025 ruin the curve in our education system?

Project 2025, a comprehensive policy blueprint developed by conservative think tanks, aims to significantly reshape the US federal government, including the education system. This blog explores how Project 2025 will impact education both nationally and at the state level, and the potential implications of these policies.

National Impact on Education

Abolishing the US Department of Education

One of the most radical proposals in Project 2025 is the abolition of the US Department of Education. This agency oversees federal education assistance to states, collects data, enforces anti-discrimination laws, and establishes financial policies. Eliminating this department would have a seismic effect on education throughout the US. Without federal oversight, states would lose vital support and guidance, potentially leading to a fragmented and unequal education system.

Cutting Federal Funding

Project 2025 proposes significant cuts to federal education funding, including the elimination of Title I funding, which provides grants to schools with large populations of low-income students. This funding is crucial for reducing achievement gaps between higher-income and lower-income districts and ensuring equal access to quality education. Additionally, the plan calls for ending Head Start, a program that supports early childhood education for low-income families.

Privatization and Deregulation

The blueprint advocates for the privatization of education, including the removal of programs related to LGBTQ+ programming and diversity initiatives. It also suggests cutting federal funding for schools that promote critical race theory or gender ideology. By promoting universal private school choice and converting federal education funds into block grants with little regulation, Project 2025 aims to give states and parents more control over education.

Impact on Higher Education

Project 2025 includes plans to phase out income-driven repayment programs, eliminate PLUS loans for graduate students and parents of undergrads, and privatize student loans. These changes could significantly impact the ability of current students to pay their debts and dissuade future students from pursuing a college degree. Additionally, the plan proposes deep cuts to federal funding for research and investment in renewable energy, which could affect academic programs in higher education and STEM-related disciplines.

State-Level Impact on Education

Shifting Responsibilities to States

By eliminating the U.S. Department of Education, Project 2025 would shift the responsibility for education entirely to state and local governments. This could create a void where the federal government once enforced and created laws that promoted the protection of student rights, administered federal funding for college, and streamlined educational practices. States would have to navigate these responsibilities independently, potentially leading to disparities in educational quality and access.

Financial Burden on States

The proposal to convert federal education funds into block grants with little regulation could place a significant financial burden on states. States like Georgia, which rely heavily on federal funding for underfunded public school districts, would be particularly affected. Lax oversight of block grants could allow states to funnel dollars from public schools to charters or religious-based educational institutions, further exacerbating inequalities.

Impact on Vulnerable Populations

Eliminating federal programs like Title I and Head Start would have a devastating impact on vulnerable students and families who rely on this funding and civil rights protections. The reduction in federal funding for students with disabilities and the removal of guardrails designed to ensure these children are adequately served by schools would further marginalize these populations.

Conclusion

Project 2025 presents a radical shift in how the United States addresses education at both the national and state levels. By abolishing the U.S. Department of Education, cutting federal funding, and promoting privatization, the plan could have far-reaching and potentially devastating consequences for the education system. It is crucial for policymakers and the public to carefully consider these implications and advocate for policies that prioritize equal access to quality education for all students.

Sources

1. GovTech. "Opinion: What Project 2025 Could Mean for Education." Published July 16, 2024. [Link](https://www.govtech.com/education/higher-ed/opinion-what-project-2025-could-mean-for-education)

2. Senator Patty Murray. "Project 2025: Murray Warns Trump Education Agenda Would Devastate Schools and Students." Published September 12, 2024. [Link](https://www.murray.senate.gov/project-2025-murray-warns-trump-education-agenda-would-devastate-schools-and-students/)

3. Technician Online. "How Project 2025 could affect higher education." Published August 17, 2024. [Link](https://www.technicianonline.com/news/how-project-2025-could-affect-higher-education/article_8ce3bd14-5c34-11ef-8f86-538a761d5b48.html)

4. Capital B News. "Project 2025: What Could It Mean for Education in Georgia?" Published August 8, 2024. [Link](https://atlanta.capitalbnews.org/project-25-education-atlanta/)

5. Brookings. "Project 2025 and education: A lot of bad ideas, some more actionable than others." Published August 21, 2024. [Link](https://www.brookings.edu/articles/project-2025-and-education-a-lot-of-bad-ideas-some-more-actionable-than-others/)

6. Forbes. "What Does Project 2025 Actually Plan For Education?" Published July 13, 2024. [Link](https://www.forbes.com/sites/petergreene/2024/07/13/what-does-project-2025-actually-plan-for-education/)

7. Chalkbeat. "What it would mean to eliminate the U.S. Department of Education." Published August 24, 2024. [Link](https://www.chalkbeat.org/2024/08/24/if-trump-abolished-the-department-of-education-what-would-happen/)

8. EdWeek. "Project 2025 Would Dramatically Cut Federal Funds for Schools. Then What?" Published July 22, 2024. [Link](https://www.edweek.org/policy-politics/project-2025-would-dramatically-cut-federal-funds-for-schools-then-what/2024/07)

9. EdWeek. "Project 2025: What It Is and What It Means for K-12 If Trump Wins." Published July 8, 2024. [Link](https://www.edweek.org/policy-politics/project-2025-what-it-is-and-what-it-means-for-k-12-if-trump-wins/2024/07)