In Wake of Department of Education Cuts, State Superintendent Reassures, but Union President Sounds Alarm

By Keila Szpaller for the Daily Montanan

Credit: Petty Officer 2nd Class Vaughan Dill, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Montana Superintendent of Public Instruction Susie Hedalen said this week she wanted to reassure Montana educators and families that funding for schools “remains unchanged,” and changes at the U.S. Department of Education will give the state more flexibility to serve students.

In a letter released Tuesday, Hedalen said the federal Department of Education is taking steps to reduce bureaucracy and return more control over education to the states.

“As we monitor the effect of these changes, I will continue advocating for our schools to ensure these changes bring real benefits to our educators, students, and families,” Hedalen said. “My focus remains on expanding opportunities, improving academic outcomes, and resources directly to the classroom.”

U.S. President Donald Trump campaigned in part on dismantling the Department of Education. The agency had 4,133 workers when he took office, and last week, 2,183 remained, according to States Newsroom’s Washington, D.C., Bureau.

The reductions — ahead of a presidential order expected Thursday to eliminate the Department of Education, according to national media reports — drew protests in Washington, D.C. Congressional approval would be required to do away with the agency.

In Montana, the head of the largest organization representing educators and other public school employees expressed alarm at the slashing of the federal agency and disappointment with the reassurances offered by the state superintendent.

Amanda Curtis, president of the Montana Federation of Public Employees, said it is impossible to expect the state won’t see impacts when federal employees who send checks to Montana have been sent home.

“This money literally funds rural schools, literally funds school meals,” Curtis said. “It is not hyperbolic or dramatic in any way to say these moves are going to hurt Montana kids very, very soon.”

In the last school year, 148,585 children attended public schools in Montana. The governor’s budget proposes nearly $2.7 billion in spending authority for the next biennium for public schools, including federal money.

Curtis said educators are so distraught for their students they are “catatonic,” and she said she found the remarks from Hedalen unexpected.

Hedalen is the former superintendent of the Townsend school district and took office as state superintendent in January this year.

“She has a history of being a very reasonable school leader, and to see this was really a disappointment,” Curtis said.

In her letter, Hedalen said the changes at the Department of Education were designed to “not disrupt funding or critical services” for students and families, but to “empower local schools and communities.”

“I want to reassure Montana educators and families that funding for elementary and secondary education remains unchanged,” Hedalen said.

She said the Office of Public Instruction (OPI) was informed that the Elementary and Secondary Education Act’s formula funding, discretionary grant programs and staff were not affected, “meaning these resources will continue to flow without disruption.”

Hedalen said OPI also received notice that special education services and vocational rehabilitation programs remain “fully intact.”

“These changes aim to cut through federal red tape and give our state the flexibility to better serve students in ways that align with the unique needs of our communities,” Hedalen said. “As I have often emphasized, reducing micromanagement from Washington allows teachers to focus on what truly matters, getting back to the basics.”

Lance Melton, head of the Montana School Boards Association, said education accounts for just 5% of the federal budget even though it’s made out to sound like “a really big, significant portion.”

But he also said Montana appreciates the funds, and it’s a “disproportionate user” of the federal money. He said federal funds account for 12.5% of the education budget in Montana as opposed to the national average of roughly 8%.

In other words, Montana receives 50% more than other states, or roughly $160 million a year, he said.

Melton also said the Trump administration is offering disclaimers that it does not plan to — “at least right now” — gut funding for Title 1, for children living in poverty, or for IDEA, Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, for those who have special needs.

Melton said as long as Montana continues to hear there’s no intent or plan to reduce the actual distribution of funds to Montana’s public schools, he couldn’t say the changes would bring harm to schools “just yet.”

“I wouldn’t call it status quo, but I would call it potentially innocuous,” Melton said.

He also said some cuts mean fewer federal employees are ensuring schools are obeying the law, but he said Montana schools already do a good job of being in compliance.

“The key question is: How does this impact the appropriation process by Congress? And the jury is still out on that,” Melton said. However, he said he is “cautiously optimistic.”

Curtis, though, said the cuts exacerbate challenges that already exist in education, such as an exodus from the profession.

“On top of folks wondering if there are going to be schools in which they can teach, if they’re going to have funding for the education of their students, it just causes so much chaos,” Curtis said. “It heaps onto the uncertainty and the worry that we were all already feeling in public education.”

Curtis said 50% of Montana students receives Title 1 funds, including for those living below the poverty line.

“I don’t know how anyone feels they can trust that the money will still flow when the entity responsible for distributing the funds and calculating the funds doesn’t have anybody working there anymore,” Curtis said.

Early during her role as MFPE president, Curtis said she worried that she would be labeled as a “sky is falling” leader. She said this time, she has a different problem.

“I can’t ring the bell enough,” Curtis said.

She said her organization is going to contact Montana’s federal delegation, but she said members also need to send messages to Governor Greg Gianforte given his national leadership role and influence on the delegation and Republican Party.

“We really see a space for the governor to show some real leadership, for him to champion Montana’s public schools, and we hope he steps up to the plate to do that,” Curtis said.

She said she’s especially concerned that children in special education who are on Individual Education Plans designed for their unique needs have had their right to education jeopardized without enforcement at the federal level.

Curtis spoke to the Daily Montanan on Wednesday evening, and the Governor’s Office could not be reached for comment by email on Wednesday evening.

In her letter, Hedalen said OPI is receiving timely updates from the Department of Education, impacts on OPI have been minimal, and no staff reductions are currently planned at the state agency.

“At Montana OPI, we stand ready to take on the increased responsibilities to continue serving our students, teachers, and administrators effectively,” Hedalen said.