AZ House Rep. Priya Sundareshan
State Democrats are questioning the legality of President Donald Trump’s executive order Thursday, directing Congress to dismantle the Department of Education.
Arizona K-12 schools receive about $855 million from the Department every year, according to a statement from Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs:
“I am deeply concerned about the actions that are being taken to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education. Arizona receives almost $1 billion in ongoing K-12 education programs through the Department of Education. Arizona students also rely on the Department to access the FAFSA that unlocks Pell Grants and other financial aid. Any potential cuts to these critical funding streams and services would have far-reaching effects on Arizona students from preschool to K-12 and higher education.
“These programs provide Arizona’s public schools with resources to support students with disabilities and students from low-income households, provide Career and Technical Education, offer preschool programs, and provide important funding for disadvantaged schools, including on tribal land and in rural areas. The Department also provides support and funding for Arizona students to pursue higher education. Now is the time we should be doubling down on our investments in public education, not creating uncertainty. As Governor, I will do everything in my power to protect education funding for Arizona’s students,” the statement reads.
State Senator Priya Sundareshan (D-Tucson) is also concerned about what federal uncertainty means for Arizona students.
“Education is at the core of how we raise our children. We find these kinds of actions, especially done by executive order in this way, very legally questionable, on top of being completely reckless,” she said. “Democrats will continue to fight for our students, teachers and schools to get the support they deserve, including here at the state level, but the impacts that Trump and Musk and Republicans at the federal level are having, this will cause havoc in our state.”
In a video on social media, State Rep. Nancy Gutierrez (D-Tucson) expressed concern for schools that receive assistance for vulnerable students.
“Donald Trump’s illegal executive order to abolish the United States Department of Education is a direct attack on vulnerable families with the highest needs in our state; students with disabilities and special education, Title I schools in lower income communities, as well as rural schools and schools in indigenous nations,” she said.
Much education funding comes from the state, but over 1,100 Arizona schools receive Title I funding, which are federal dollars given to schools with predominantly low-income students, according to the latest available data from the National Center for Education Statistics.
Hobbs’ office said Title I dollars amount to $345 million each year.
The Department of Education also handles grants that fund special education for students with disabilities, through the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, amounting to $272 million for Arizona schools each year.
The Associated Press reported Trump said the Department will continue to maintain “certain critical functions,” specifically naming Pell Grants and federal student loans.
The cabinet agency cannot be fully dismantled without Congressional approval, including a supermajority in the US Senate.
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