A strong Department of Education is critical to public schools
The Department of Education (DOE) accounts for about 3.5% of the entire federal budget and provides crucial funding for public K–12 schools, narrowing some of the huge gaps between needed resources and state and local revenue. Specifically, the DOE provides funding for low-income children through Title I funds and funding for special education through IDEA programs. These resources help balance the scales of school funding, as high-poverty districts often get less funding from local sources, which rely heavily on property taxes. The DOE also administers crucial programs—like Pell grants and loans—that make college attendance possible for those who are not rich.