First and foremost, our responsibility is to the students and families in Le Roy. Our Board of Education and leadership has maintained this message throughout a multitude of local, state, and federal education issues over the years. Regardless of our state or federal governing agencies, we will strategically plan and work to do what is in the best interests of the students and families we serve locally.
Below is a summary response to the title question. There is also a link in the first bullet point to a more extensive explanation of each key point.
What Happens if the Department of Education (DOE) is Cut? LINK
Right now, there are more questions than answers. Any time we have change, there is cause for concern and there are always pros and cons. What I can do is provide some clarity to what the Federal Government does for Le Roy Schools, facts as we currently know them, and early thoughts on how things might play out.
Engagement in Education Policy Discussions
I am actively involved in ongoing discussions about education policies at the local, state, and national levels, collaborating with various associations and other stakeholders – Regional Office of Education (ROE), Illinois and American Association of School Administrators (IASA & AASA), and Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE).
Current Federal Education Landscape, Prior to Administrative Change
House Appropriations Committee’s FY25 Act, passed in July 2024
Proposes cuts to Title I grants, reducing funding by 25% ($4.7 billion).
Proposes eliminating Title II and III grants and 15 other programs.
Includes a small increase to IDEA funding by $30 million, which remains far below the intended 40% federal funding for special education (currently funded at 13%).
Potential Federal Education Policy Changes
According to the AASA, there are four main education themes for the new administration
Bolster School Choice
Potential expansion of tax credits or school vouchers diverting funds from public schools to private institutions.
Enhance Parental Rights in Education
We want all parents to be partners in education and this sounds great on the surface. Some options included, however, could possibly change the current structure of School Board and administrative oversight.
Abolishment of the DOE
There is a lot of uncertainty around the possibility of eliminating the DOE, with key questions about the continuation and management of federal funding. The stated intent from the new administration is for money to go directly to the states with less federal oversight. Note that Federal funding to the states existed before the DOE and is allocated by Congress.
Title IX Regulations
There are potential changes to Title IX. The impact in Illinois schools may be minimal considering we also operate under the Illinois Human Rights Act – “prohibits discrimination with respect to employment, financial credit, public accommodations, housing and sexual harassment, as well as sexual harassment in education”.
Le Roy Schools Federal Funding
Federal funding accounts for 5.5% ($475,673) of the district’s overall budget (3.8% - $341,368 - of the total budget when excluding the federal breakfast/lunch program).
Specific funding areas:
Title Grants: $98,231
IDEA Special Education Grant: $243,137 (covers 21% of our special education costs)
Federal Breakfast/Lunch Program: $134,305 (administered by the USDA, not the DOE)
While it seems low in percentages and is compared to school districts with a larger low income population, it’s still 1/3 to 1/2 million dollars.
Concluding Outlook
Regardless of our state or federal governing agencies, we will strategically plan and work to do what is in the best interests of the students and families we serve locally.