RI education commissioner: 15 percent of state school budget from DOE

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — President Donald Trump is expected to move to fully dismantle the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) Thursday.

He’s expected to sign an executive order Thursday afternoon directing his education secretary “to facilitate the closure of the agency and return education authority to the states.”

Most funding for public schools is already at the state and local level, but the department oversees funding to help low-income students and students with disabilities.

It also prevents discrimination in schools and handles the process for students applying for college financial aid.

The administration has promised none of those programs will be impacted.

Sources said they’re exploring how to move some of the education department’s key programs to other agencies.

Rhode Island State Education Commissioner Angelica Infante-Green said 15 percent of Rhode Island’s school district budget comes from the DOE.

That totals $275 million that goes towards Title I funding for low-income students, money for the Individuals with Disabilities Act, school nutrition and career and technical education.