U.S. President Donald Trump is pushing to eliminate an entire federal government department focused on education, to the cheers of conservatives in his Make America Great Again movement.
Trump signed an executive order on Thursday that aims to shut down the Department of Education, the federal agency that ensures states provide all children with equal access to schooling and oversees the $1.6 trillion US college student loan program.
His order directs Secretary of Education Linda McMahon — co-founder and former chief executive of the WWE wrestling empire — to take “all necessary steps to facilitate the closure” of the department.
Here’s what eliminating the Department of Education would mean for children, schools and college students in the United States.
What does the Department of Education do?
While states have primary jurisdiction over the school systems in the U.S., including over curriculum, the federal department enforces compliance with laws that prohibit discrimination in education and administers funding aimed at boosting educational achievement.
Last year it received $220 billion …