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President Trump's recent executive order to close the U.S. Department of Education and "return authority over education to the States and local communities while ensuring the effective and uninterrupted delivery of services, programs, and benefits on which Americans rely", if effectuated, has significant implications for North Carolina's public schools. While education funding in North Carolina is primarily provided at the state and local levels, federal funding provides 10.9% of the state's budget for public schools. The federal government provides over $1 billion to support public school students, including services for students with disabilities, children from low-income families and Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs. Those federal dollars fund more than 14,000 teacher and other educator positions (7.6% of our education workforce) across the state.
The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) is continuing to monitor federal executive orders and actions, maintain regular communication with districts and schools to understand and assist with immediate needs and concerns, and advocate for continued federal funding without disruptions.
While I fully acknowledge that this executive order, especially when coupled with other federal pronouncements and actions impacting public education, is unsettling, my commitment to North Carolina's 1.5 million students remains unwavering. I am confident that by working together – educators, families, communities and policymakers – we will continue advancing educational excellence for every student in our state.
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