March 20, 2025
Augusta— Augusta— Today, President Trump signed an executive order to dismantle the United States Department of Education (ED).
In response, Maine Education Association (MEA) President Jesse Hargrove has released the following statement:
“The Department of Education is the backbone of public education in the United States. All students benefit from its programs, especially lower-income students, students in rural communities, and students with disabilities. Last week, President Trump fired 50 percent of its employees, and today he signed an executive order to further dismantle the ED. Both actions will have a profound effect on public schools and universities in Maine.
“Currently, thousands of Maine educators and tens of thousands of Maine students benefit from federal funding and Department of Education programs. These funds enable educators to offer academic support, after-school and summer programming, and give students greater access to higher education. For instance:
- 2,038 staff positions are supported by K-12 state formula-allocated ED programs in Maine.
- According to Maine DOE, there are over 5,500 Title I Ed Techs in Maine.
- Hundreds of Maine school districts receive Title I grants, which are funds set aside to help schools with low-income students. This money supports more than 50,000 students in Maine.
- Hundreds of Maine school districts also receive funding through the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), a federal law that ensures children with disabilities receive a free and appropriate public education. More than 35,000 Maine students with disabilities benefit from funding allocated to school districts through IDEA.
- Another 17,990 Maine college students receive Pell Grants, which help the neediest students afford higher education.
“These are valuable and necessary programs that Maine students, educators, and schools rely on to serve our most vulnerable students. Potential cuts to any of these programs would limit opportunities for Mainers and have devastating consequences for our communities. The Maine Education Association (MEA) will continue to advocate alongside parents and educators for well-resourced public schools—from early childhood through higher education—that allow every student to thrive.”
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The Maine Education Association is the largest professional association and union in the state of Maine representing more than 23,000 teachers, support staff, professors, pre-service teachers and retired educators. The MEA is an organization for educators, run by educators and is here to support and strengthen educators in their career. When educators are in a strong position, our kids thrive. At MEA, we work hard so educators can focus on inspiring the passion for knowledge in the minds of Maine’s students. To learn more about the MEA, visit the MEA About page.
For more information on the impact of ED funded programs in Maine visit Federal Education Funding for Selected Programs by State and Program.
