How Federal funding benefits K-12 students
The U.S. Department of Education has long played a crucial role in ensuring that students of all backgrounds have access to equitable, high-quality education.
President Donald Trump’s expressed desire to dismantle or reduce the U.S. Department of Education has raised concerns about the impact on local funding, accountability, and student services.
Referencing Education Secretary Linda McMahon, Trump recently said: “I want Linda to put herself out of a job.”
While federal funding for education makes up only about 4% of the $6.5 trillion national budget, this investment improves learning for the nation’s most vulnerable students, helping to bridge gaps that states and local districts cannot always cover.
Federal Funds Fill Critical Gaps
The federal government has historically stepped in to address education challenges that state and local governments struggle to meet on their own. Programs such as the Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944 (“The GI Bill”) and the 1917 Smith-Hughes Act helped fund vocational training, while the anti-poverty and civil rights laws of the 1960s and 1970s ensured greater access to education for marginalized communities.
Today, the Department of Education administers funding for critical programs that benefit millions of students, including:
IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act): Provides support for students with disabilities.
Title I: Offers supplemental instruction for low-achieving students in high-poverty schools.
Title II: Assists in adult basic education programs.
Title III: Funds English language instruction for students with limited English proficiency.
Title IV: Distributes federal student aid to help families afford college.
Title V: Supports rural education and career & technical training.
The department also ensures that schools remain accountable for student achievement. Through the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), federal oversight helps ensure that resources are used effectively and that schools meet performance goals.
(Other Federally-funded “Title” programs include Title XVIII, the Medicare – Social Security Act and Title XIX: The Medicaid – Social Security Act).
If the Department of Education were dismantled, states and local districts would bear the full responsibility of funding and managing these programs. That could have serious consequences for local school districts that currently rely on federal dollars for key initiatives.
In the 2023-2024 school year, the Gettysburg Area School District (GASD) received more than $979,234 in federal funds through Title I, Title II, Title III, and Title IV initiatives. These funds have been critical in improving reading proficiency, teacher quality, vocational training, and English language instruction. For the upcoming 2024-2025 school year, the district is slated to receive $982,000 in federal funding to continue supporting programs relating to special education services, safe school initiatives, and programs for students experiencing homelessness.
Federal Title I-V funds are distributed to schools through the state, not directly from the federal government. The Department of Education allocates these funds to state education agencies (SEAs), such as the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE). The state then suballocates the funds to local school districts (Local Education Agencies or LEAs) based on federal guidelines, formulas, and state-determined priorities.
Commenting on the likely effects of a cutoff in Federal funding, GASD Communications Coordinator Vanessa Sanders said it was too soon to be sure. “We will closely monitor this as more becomes known and available to us,” she said.
Impact on School Meal Programs
Federal funding also helps feed students. The Food Service Fund Budget at GASD receives approximately $1 million in federal support through the National School Lunch and Breakfast Programs. Established in 1946 under President Harry Truman, this program provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free meals to students each school day. Without federal assistance, many children in public and nonprofit private schools could face food insecurity.
In Adams County, about 38 percent of the students in local school districts qualify for free meals.
Fairfield School District Business Manager Scott Wilt said he is most concerned about what could happen with the school lunch program. “For FY 2024-25, federal money has already been received in full, minus monthly lunch subsidies,” he said. “The only thing that comes in monthly is the free lunch subsidy money, and I can’t see the government shutting that off. That would be such a PR disaster for the government. I don’t see them doing that. It’s very, very regulated. There’s not a lot of room for what they call fraud, waste, and abuse in that program.”
In sum, while federal dollars account for only about 1 or 2 percent of overall K-12 education spending in Adams County, they have an outsized impact on students who need the most support. Without the Department of Education, schools may struggle to maintain vital services, and the responsibility for funding could shift to state and local taxpayers.