NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Several state agencies and area school districts reacted to an executive order signed by President Donald Trump that pares down the U.S. Department of Education.
Governor Bill Lee attended the signing of the executive order, which recognized that it would take an act of Congress to completely shutter the department. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said all of the department's critical functions would remain. A Thursday press release from the governor's office called the department "an $80 billion failure."
"In Tennessee, we understand that the best education system considers the unique needs of every student and empowers parents to choose what’s best for their child," the press release reads, in part. "We also have a proven track record of stewarding tax dollars wisely to achieve the maximum benefit for our students and teachers. By returning education to the states, we can once again make an American education the gold standard across the globe."
"Proud to be at the White House today as President @realDonaldTrump delivers on his promise to return education to the states & parents," Lee said in a post to X following the signing.
Lee spoke with reporters outside the White House.
"This decision will mean that the state has more funding. Federal dollars that have come to the state have come with barriers and strings attached — bureaucracy, really," Lee said. Now, those dollars will be freed up to flow to states to use in the way that they see best for their children."
Lee was not the only Tennessee legislator to share a reaction to the order on social media. Cameron Sexton, Speaker of the state's House of Representatives, said in a post to X that the executive order "aligns with Tennessee's longstanding goal to reclaim control over our educational system."
Senator Marsha Blackburn posted to X saying that Trump has her "full support in eliminating the Department of Education." Rep. Andy Ogles said in a post that the Department of Education "has been poisoning the minds of students by injecting woke, anti-America curriculum" into schools and thanked Trump for the order.
Aside from lawmakers, other organizations also shared statements about Thursday's order. President of the Tennessee Education Association, Tanya T. Coats, shared the following statement:
"Shutting down the U.S. Department of Education isn’t about ‘state control.’ States already control most of public education. It’s about taking away much-needed services from our students, and then dismantling, defunding and privatizing our great public schools.
For a state which played such a prominent role in the history of the U.S. civil rights movement, Tennesseans know more than most how important federal protections are in the course of our nation’s history for vulnerable and minority students and communities.
If the U.S. Department of Education is broken apart, the rights of students—particularly our most vulnerable—will be undercut. Our students would be at risk of losing access to academic lessons, civil rights protections, and life skills that prepare them for the future.
Also at the federal level, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) program has been transformative for countless students with disabilities and their families.
If it is transferred to another department, it will likely cause chaos for students with special needs and their families. Students and families who currently rely on individualized education plans (IEPs) and students with special needs will be adversely impacted by this change.
The risk of unequal access to necessary educational services would be a critical concern, as students in under-resourced states could face significant barriers in receiving the support they need to succeed academically and socially.
Public school educators are increasingly concerned that this dangerous plan would endanger future generations, as it threatens to widen economic disparities, sowing discord and endangering our democracy. Other impacts would include larger class sizes and less one-on-one attention for students in public schools; fewer resources and basic rights for students with disabilities; less access to programs which encourage lower-income students and students with disabilities to attend college; and cuts to after-school and summer programs that augment in-school learning and skill-building."
A spokesperson for Metro Nashville Public Schools told News 2 that as of publication, the impact of the executive order is unclear. Wilson County Schools did not have comment as of publication. News 2 has reached out to other area districts for comment.