U.S. Department of Education’s future looms over school district budget process in Butler County
With school districts preparing to assemble a 2025-26 academic year budget, potential federal disruption casts a large shadow.
About a month into President Donald Trump’s second term, the future of the U.S. Department of Education remains uncertain. Recent national reporting has suggested Trump wants to shut down the department, describing it as “a big con job.”
Even if the department is not entirely shuttered, efforts to shrink or reform it are still on the table. Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency could continue to target education, as recent reports show DOGE has wanted access to the department’s databases.
Regardless, for school districts and the federal funds they receive, uncertainty remains. Funding for financial aid and school grants, distribution of funds to the states for educational purposes, protections for disabled and disadvantaged students, and the collection of data on students and schools could be in a limbo.
According to NPR, major parts of school operations that are federally funded include Title I, which helps districts serve lower-income students, and Individuals with Disabilities Education Act funding, which helps districts serve students with disabilities. Combined, funding allocated to the department, which is then distributed to schools, totaled $38 billion in 2024.
No matter what happens, local districts must continue to be adaptable.
While some school districts in Butler County chose not to comment, others said they are aware of a potential for change on the horizon, regardless of stance.
“School districts are nothing if not flexible. Therefore, we’ll be able to adjust as necessary to any Department of Education changes or directives,” said a statement issued by the Seneca Valley School District.
While not all school funding comes from the federal government, the money goes to a wide range of uses.
Brian White, Butler Area School District’s superintendent, previously said Butler schools get about $8 million from federal funding, and the money comes through a variety of sources. Some of it is dedicated for various programming needs in school, while some of it also goes toward other areas, such as the lunch program. White referred to around $2.6 million focused on breakfasts and lunches for students as “real money.”
For White, another potential topic to be discussed regarding the future of the department circles around what rules, regulations and requirements local districts will have regarding curriculum and other educational decisions. He said there is a lot districts have to do to comply with federal guidelines that doesn’t involve federal funding.
“We’ve long advocated for local control, so if this is about empowering school boards, I think it’s something intriguing,” White said. “I just hope there’s not a whiplash from funding because we don’t have the capacity to make major changes funding wise”
White has previously spoken in support of more freedom for school districts, overseen by locally elected boards, particularly when discussing topics like state-mandated courses schools have to teach.
However, White told the Butler Area school board on Feb. 14 that the portion the district receives from the federal government, while a small percentage, has great impact.
Although it is conditional, White said, the district is not planning a tax increases for next year’s budget. However, he said, the district is starting to look at what changes in federal funding could look like on the proposed budget.
“I think it behooves us, watching what’s happening, and no matter where you are on the political spectrum, we have to develop contingencies in case there’s a change in our funding,” White said.
Right now, for the purposes of the general fund budget, he’s considering that about $3 million could impact the district.
“And that’s a small percentage of the budget, but it’s actually a large dollar amount,” he said. “So if you lose $3 million, that could have an impact on our programs.”
For 2024-25, Butler Area School District took in about $110,413,000 in revenue from various sources. About $3.095 million of that came from federal sources, while about $51,838,000 comes from the state.
According to numbers from the U.S. Department of Education’s website, the Pennsylvania received $7.273 billion from the federal government for education purposes in 2023. The figure includes all funding to the state from the department at all levels, from preschool to higher education and adult learning. Figures are not broken down by district.
From the perspective of Eric Ritzert, superintendent of the Karns City Area School District, it is hard to say what will happen with the Department of Education, and how it will impact his district.
Ritzert also said federal regulations, and ensuring his schools are abiding by them, are a priority. How that would change, as well as what kinds of funds will be provided to help them meet obligations, would be his concerns with or without the department.
“I wouldn’t say anyone knows for sure,” Ritzert said.
What’s the role of the Department of Education?
The mission of the United States Department of Education is to promote student achievement and preparation for global competitiveness by fostering educational excellence and ensuring equal access for students of all ages. While the Department of Education does not mandate what is taught in local schools, it plays a role in sending funding to schools, collecting data and managing financial aid.
