On November 18, as part of its effort to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education (ED), the Trump Administration announced plans to move the management of six offices to other federal agencies. According to the announcement, the entire Office of Elementary and Secondary Education – which includes the homeless education office overseeing the McKinney-Vento Act’s Education for Homeless Children and Youth program –  will be administered by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL).

The Office of Elementary and Secondary Education programs include:

• Title I, Part A: Improving Basic Programs Operated by Local Educational Agencies
• Title I, Part B: Improving Academic Achievement of the Disadvantaged—State Assessment Grants
• Title I, Part C: Education of Migratory Children
• Title I, Part D: Prevention and Intervention Programs for Children and Youth Who are Neglected, Delinquent or At-Risk
• Title II, Part A: Supporting Effective Instruction State Grants
• Title III, Part A: English Language Acquisition State Grants
• Title IV, Part A, Student Support and Academic Enrichment (SSAE)
• Title IV, Part B 21st Century Community Learning Centers
• Title V Small, Rural School Achievement and Rural and Low-Income School Programs
• Impact Aid
• Education for Homeless Children and Youths
• Republic of Palau Grant
• Consolidated Grants to the Insular Areas

The Office of Postsecondary Education also would move to the Labor Department, while the Office of Indian Education would move to the Interior Department; the Child Care Access means Parents in School (CCAMPIS) program would move to the Department of Health and Human Services, and international education and foreign language programs would move to the State Department.

According to the announcement, states will continue receiving all formula funds, but they will receive funds from DOL. The announcement also stated that grantees should not expect to experience programmatic disruptions, and should continue to remain in contact with their respective OESE staff. 

It is unclear whether litigation will be forthcoming in response to this proposal, how Congress will respond, or the impact on OESE staff. What is clear is that the U.S. Department of Education — and only the U.S. Department of Education – has specific statutory responsibilities under the McKinney-Vento Act. Without staff with the subject matter expertise and experience to carry out these responsibilities, state and local educational agencies will struggle to uphold the law’s protections. As a result, more than 1.5 million children and youth experiencing homelessness may lose access to the education they need to escape homelessness and achieve stability.

SchoolHouse Connection is closely monitoring these developments and will share further information as it becomes available.