Washington, D.C. — As schools across the nation prepare to welcome students back to the classroom, families and staff alike face uncertainty about the federal government’s shifting role in public K-12 education. A new analysis from the Center for American Progress identifies four major actions the federal government can be expected to take in the months ahead that will have significant effects on K-12 education.
Anticipated federal actions include:
- Increasing surveillance and introducing policies that expressly hinder the reflection of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) principles in school spaces
- Further expanding private school voucher programs
- Granting waiver requests from state and local education agencies in order to undermine federal accountability requirements
- Making additional cuts and restrictions to federal K-12 funding, shifting increased financial responsibility onto states
“Since taking office, the Trump administration has taken a number of actions aimed at significantly shrinking the federal government’s role in K-12 education,” said Paige Shoemaker DeMio, senior policy analyst for K-12 Education Policy at CAP and co-author of the issue brief. “School districts are already struggling to navigate this rocky new terrain, and the threat of a rescissions package and more funding freezes still looms ahead.”
“As efforts to shrink the federal role in public education continue, threats of staffing cuts and the loss of academic programs and vital resources are becoming more realistic,” said Weadé James, senior director for K-12 Education Policy at CAP and co-author of the issue brief. “State leaders must act decisively to protect students by increasing state funding for public schools and adopting student-centered funding formulas that prioritize the immediate needs of learners.”
Read the issue brief: “Public Education Under Threat: 4 Trump Administration Actions To Watch in the 2025-26 School Year” by Paige Shoemaker DeMio and Weadé James
For more information or to speak with an expert, contact Mishka Espey at [email protected].