With the currently continuing government shutdown, these serious challenges to our education sector are compounded further. The Department of Education in Washington, D.C. is at a screeching funding stop. Though it won’t affect $15 billion in federal funding for other programs to continue. This is particularly alarming for schools that depend on Impact Aid. The Department of Education has earmarked budget from past mandatory appropriations bills to support nearly 10 million students, including essential funding for student loans and Pell Grants. Beyond larger questions about the shutdown, there are immediate threats to schools located on tax-exempt federal lands.
The Department of Education’s funding halt will severely impact schools that depend on Impact Aid, which includes institutions located on military bases and Native American reservations. Unlike many other districts and schools, these schools have no access to local tax revenue and are therefore dependent on their federal funding for their very existence. Since the shutdown began, nearly 80% of the Department’s employees have been sent home. This situation is problematic and worrying not only for their continued capacity to absorb critical funding.
Impact on Vulnerable Students
Rachel Gittleman, former management and program analyst at the Department of Education’s Ombudsman Office, emphasized the awful consequences of that stop in funding. She focused on its disproportionate impact on vulnerable children.
“For funds that have been delayed and for funds where there are further oversight or conditions that have been added, the funding is technically supposed to continue to get out the door, but the staff that is responsible for resolving oversight requirements or flagging these schools as able to accept the funds, that staff has been furloughed so that you can’t actually get the funding out the door,” – Rachel Gittleman.
We can only hope that the state’s ongoing shutdown doesn’t close the door on these critical preschool programs that establish a foundation for later academic achievement. Thousands of children would be denied access to these essential services. These services are an essential component to ensuring that they can all thrive academically.
Concerns Over School Operations
Becky Pringle, President of the National Education Association (NEA), expressed her concerns about the funding interruptions. Most importantly, she emphasized the large implications this has on public schools that serve military families across the United States in wild and wonderful communities.
“A shutdown means the public schools that serve military families and military communities across the United States will be cut off from funding they need for day-to-day operations,” – Becky Pringle.
In addition to the immediate issue of funding shortfalls that schools would face if they cannot open, there are externalities to consider. Parents and educators all across the country worry that these long-term disruptions may have irreversible effects on students’ scholastic success and social-emotional development.
Furloughs and Operational Challenges
The furlough of Department of Education staff only adds to the problems. As a result, many crucial functions within the disastrous Office of Federal Student Aid remain unstaffed.
“If, like something breaks on the FAFSA form, the staff that is responsible for fixing it is furloughed,” – Rachel Gittleman.
These operational challenges, in turn, could result in delays processing student loans, Pell Grants and more. Even in the most optimistic scenario where the government opens tomorrow, students can expect to continue to see complications in getting financial aid.
“If students have an issue getting their Pell Grant or getting their federal student aid, if the shutdown resolves in six days, then there will still be harm,” – Rachel Gittleman.
