The Department of Education was created in 1980 to improve educational access and quality across the nation. Its core mission has always been to ensure all students, regardless of their background, have equal opportunities to receive a quality education. This mission became even more vital as the American education system faced many new challenges. Today, the department’s work is more crucial than ever.
The Department of Education’s creation was a direct response to growing educational inequalities, which particularly affected marginalized groups. In the 1960s and 1970s, civil rights movements revealed how unequal education was for Black, Hispanic and low-income students. The Department of Education was tasked with addressing these issues, ensuring equal access and providing federal funding to support schools that needed it most. The department’s establishment was a crucial step in raising equity and quality of education across the country.
Currently, the Trump administration has pushed to cut funding to the department and even eliminate it altogether. The administration argues education should be managed more locally, without significant federal interference. While the Department of Education hasn’t been fully dismantled, these efforts — specifically President Donald Trump’s March 20 executive order aiming to return power over education to families — create uncertainty and undermine the department’s ability to support public schools. Critics say reducing federal involvement would magnify the disparities in education, especially in underserved communities.
The Department of Education remains essential in helping set national educational standards, provides federal funding and enforces policies like the Every Student Succeeds Act. As global competition grows, a strong education system is crucial to America’s future. The Department of Education plays a pivotal role in ensuring every student has the opportunity to succeed, and reducing its influence would only weaken the nation’s ability to compete on the global stage.
