Newport Public Schools Superintendent Colleen Burns Jermain is carefully monitoring what’s happening to the Department of Education this week.
President Donald Trump’s executive order to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education, signed on Thursday, instructs Education Secretary Linda McMahon to take steps to close the Department and shift authority over education back to states and local communities.
In response to a What’sUpNewp inquiry on what impact changes to the Department of Education would effect public education in Newport, Superintendent Burns Jermain shared the following response;
The news coming from Washington is being monitored carefully. I understand Title 1 and IDEA are not going to be impacted. That process will remain the same. I am waiting to hear from RIDE when and if changes will be made for this year or next year.
“One day at a time.”
I will keep you posted if there is anything else.
Trump’s decision fulfills a campaign promise and aligns with long-standing Republican goals to shut down the Education Department, though this would likely require action from Congress.
