$957,000,000!
That is the amount of federal education dollars that Arizona public schools could see vanish if the Musk/Trump/Vance Central Committee and MAGA world get their wish to unilaterally and Unconstitutionally abolish the United States Department of Education and the federal grant dollar programs that agency administers.
According to the Education Law Center, of the $957 million that is earmarked for Arizona from Department of Education grants:
$344,694,030 comes from Title One grants for the Grand Canyon State Public Schools that serve mostly low income populations.
$273,492,649 comes from IDEA grants for Arizona school’s special education programs and children.
$212,879,622 comes from Impact Aid like basic support payments and assistance for Arizona’s disabled children.
$126,105,546 for other federal education grant programs such as aid to Arizona rural schools, after school programs, helping homeless children, Indian Education, Teacher improvement, and helping children learn English.
For those who think the Department of Education makes no difference in student achievement and well being, think again.
Tell that to the poor children who go to Title One schools in Phoenix or who need special education services in Showlow, or who need homeless assistance in Mesa or need to learn English in Nogales.
Public Schools need more funding. Not less.
If the Department of Education or these critical funds vanish or are reduced in a substantial way, so many children will suffer and public education, a pillar of American Democracy and prosperity, will be severely damaged.
Which is undoubtedly what Musk/Trump/Vance MAGA world want.
In their worldview, the monies would be better to go to, like those MAGA and ALEC funded legislative zealots in Arizona believe, subsidizing a national welfare for the wealthy program by extending private school voucher tax credits for their rich and plutocratic donor class.
Reaction among leading Democrats and Pro-Public School Activists in Arizona has been very unfavorable to what the MAGA world is prescribing for public education here and across the country.
Liliana Soto, Press Secretary for Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs, responded to a request for comment, writing:
“The Governor’s Office is closely monitoring this situation and deeply concerned about any potential cuts to public education funding. Advocating for all students and ensuring access to quality public education is one of the Governor’s top priorities.”
“The Governor is deeply concerned about the potential shutdown of the U.S. Department of Education and its far-reaching effects on students with disabilities, students living in poverty, English Language Learners, college students, and many other essential areas of education.”
State Representative and Ranking House Education Committee Member Nancy Gutierrez also offered a comment to Blog for Arizona, stating:
“It takes an act of Congress to disband a government agency not just a wannabe dictator shaking his fist. But this report shows that any attempted disruption to the U.S. Department of Education could have devastating impacts to Arizona students and schools, especially our poorest and most under-served schools.”
Stand for Children Arizona Executive Director Rebecca Gau offered:
“Research shows that a strong economy is reliant on a highly educated population. Cutting vital funds from our public schools will not serve the best interests of our students or our state. Federal funding helps give low-income students an opportunity for a brighter future. We are very concerned about the disruption to Arizona’s students that the closing of the Department of Education could cause, particularly those who are among the most vulnerable.”
Beth Lewis, the Director of Save Our Schools Arizona, the organization that first brought this potential funding loss to Arizona’s attention in their March 9, 2025 weekly newsletter, relayed:
“President Trump’s plans to eliminate the Dept. of Ed and eliminate or reorganize its functions and programs threatens tens of billions in federal K-12 funding – primarily for schools in lower income communities and for students with disabilities. Arizona schools rely on federal funds to provide critical services to our students, receiving one of the highest portions of federal funding in the US — meaning our state has the most to lose. In fact, Arizona could lose $957,000,000 a year in Title I, IDEA, Impact Aid, and other grants. This is approximately $375,000 per school if averaged, meaning it would trigger massive cuts, layoffs, and closures.”
Arizonans need to contact their Representatives, both Democrats and Republicans, and tell them that they do not support this assault on Arizona children’s education and well being as well as this other wave of attack on American Democracy.
Many will suffer if these cuts are allowed.
They need to be pushed back and stopped.
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