EDUCATION AXED!!

At the start of the second Trump Administration, one of the President's campaign promises was reduce the size of the federal government and it's workforce. By appointing Elon Musk as the head of the newly formed Department of Government Efficiency (and yes they are hiring) DOGE, work began to cut excess regulations and spending, thus reducing the size of the federal workforce. This also included shutting down some government agencies, with the 45 year old Department of Education, first on the hit list.

Almost overnight half of the department's federal workforce was gone. Also on the chopping block was 12 regional offices devoted to civil rights issues in education in 12 major US cities. But what was really damaging for the future face of education was the closure of the Office of Educational Technology, within the Department of Education.

The Office of Educational Technology (OET) was established in 1994 as part of the Goals 2000 Education America Act. It was formed to provide federal guidance on emerging educational technologies. Many state run department's of education do not have a dedicated team able to manage the fast evolving world of technology in education. States with rural schools and districts far off the digital grid depended on OET to help bridge the "digital gap" that existed for many students. OET also provided guidance on AI and cybersecurity, but again these small schools and districts off the grid will now have to scramble and find other resources to help.

Schools may now have to look to the private section for assistance with emerging technologies now that OET is no longer. Private donations may be the solution to providing funds for tech infrastructure and other cost that OET once managed. The job losses with the closure of the Department of Education is just the beginning of the planned federal job cuts, but those who will suffer most, are our youngest citizens...our future.