How to Cope with the Threat of Losing the U.S. Department of Education

Hey, Teachers!

Teachers are scared more than ever right now--about our jobs, our students, our children, and the state of the nation related to education and the K-12 public school system, especially in response to the mass gutting of federal agencies and funding impacting millions of Americans. We now face the threat of losing the U.S. Department of Education. We already lack leadership and support in education, and the thought of losing the "hub" of protections, programs, services, research, overarching laws, and funding at the federal level, is terrifying for many educators, administrators, and parents.

How do we wrap our heads around this challenging prospect?

How do we protect ourselves and our students and keep classrooms thriving with the potential of reduced funding and support?

How do we navigate even darker terrain in public school education than we could have imagined in 2025... and continue to put students first?

The answers to these questions center on (a) your emotional and pedagogical grounding as a teacher; and (b) your advocacy for students.

Following is what to consider when asking yourself how to cope with the current federal landscape, and legislation that might include the eradication or reduction of the U.S. Department of Education as a viable entity.

1. Move from a fearful mindset to a proactive mindset. No, none of this is easy. And the outcomes are very unpredictable and further dismantle our stability as teachers. But what you're doing in your classroom with your students is predictable and can be stable. How you advocate for your students remains in your control as a practitioner. Consider your civic duty and fight for the rights of your students to the best of your ability while remaining compliant on the job. This calls for action as citizens of this country. This calls for discussions with your colleagues and school administrators. This calls for grassroots efforts.

2. Wait for the mail to be delivered. At the time of this article, we do not yet know what will occur regarding the health and viability of the U.S. Department of Education. The threat is real, but we must not get swept away in rhetoric, media bias, conversations that are doom-based, or allow ourselves to accept something that hasn't yet happened. While we're working to determine what we can do personally and professionally, we must be careful not to assume the department is already gone. And we must be careful not to assume that if it is gone, what that will truly mean for us in the states where we teach. If and when the department is gutted and removed, that's when we move forward with the "what", "how", and "when" actions to continue supporting our students with increased uncertainty about what our states will decide related to budget, laws, and student advocacy. 

3. Start planning. By all means, journal dump your emotions and get those emotions out. Talk to trusted colleagues about your fears and concerns. And then start planning for the worst, should it happen. We must be prepared for continued cutthroat actions, but not lose our own hope in the process. We are hired to steward our classes, teach students, support students, and magnify the power of positive influence. How can we magnify the power of positive influence during the darkest of times? Imagine the worst threat that the eradication of the U.S. Department of Education poses for you personally and professionally. Brainstorm now how you'll integrate that (on an already-stacked plate of worries, responsibilities, and near-impossibilities) to keep moving forward as a teacher. Don't wait until the worst happens (if it does), and scramble for answers at your school site while everyone else is crumbling and stress is high.

4. Take a step back to reflect. The U.S. Department of Education was created in 1980. Yes, much has occurred since its inception, and yes, we stand to lose important, valuable resources (and possibly even law-abiding practice impacting students in numerous populations). But we don't have to lose ourselves. We don't have to lose our fight, our grit, our tenacity, our determination, our beliefs, our centeredness, our strength in numbers, our advocacy, our communities, or our 1:1 teacher-student relationships--the most important relationships you will forge under any teaching circumstance.

Nothing about this is pretty. No, we can't sugarcoat what losing the U.S. Department of Education could mean for the country, our states, our school districts, our classrooms, our students, and our jobs. 

But we CAN face this head on.

I strongly urge teachers to stand up with strong internal dialogue and a plan of action. 

If this isn't a dealbreaker for you (and some overwhelming changes in education are dealbreakers that cause teachers to quit, which is another real implication and likelihood of reduced support and funding), then figure out now how you're going to handle your emotions, talk to your students, collaborate with colleagues, and preserve yourself and your work (even within greater limitations).

In the darkest of times, under these ruthless storms beating down on our schools and our kids right now, we are the light that transcends opposition.

We are the voices for our students even when it feels no one is listening.

Our students are listening even when they reject our efforts.

I'm choosing to hold onto the light I've held deep in my heart for 30 years as an educator, and work with what I've got. It's what I've always done. 

It's what we have to continue doing if we care enough about teaching and what happens to kids in 2025.