What can we expect in education from donald trump?

Ask yourself what trump's position is on various education issues? You're not alone. Trump has made a variety of comments about what he wants to change in U.S. Education – but often without specific details.

The GOP currently controls both the senate and the house of representatives. Some of trump's ideas are similar to those that have been in the GOP for years, while other ideas are unique to trump.

Trump's philosophy for improving education appears to focus on a free-market approach. This approach seeks to reduce barriers to innovation and encourage competition to promote new approaches while meeting the needs of "customers," or in this case, school children and families.

In contrast to these ideas, the goal is to ensure that the rights and needs of all students are met. Many education laws are about guaranteeing rights and educational access to all school children. Rights advocates are concerned that efforts to remove barriers will directly impact the rollback of laws that protect disadvantaged students and guarantee access to public education for all children.

The rest of this article describes what trump would like to do in his education reforms – and what that might look like at the local school level.

Trump plans to give U.S. Dollars for school choice

During his campaign, trump's website said he wanted to invest an additional $20 million in school choice programs. His website says he wants to:

"Give states the opportunity to allow those students to follow the student to the public or private school they attend. The distribution of this grant will benefit states that have private school options, magnet schools and charter laws, encouraging them to participate."

In trump 'first hundred days plan, he says school choice funds would also apply to religious and home schools.

Trump's campaign website stated that every U.S. Child living in poverty will be offered school choice.

Trump could find favor with senate as U.S. Senate majority leader mitch mcconnell has expressed favor for school choice programs. Mcconnell even voted for school vouchers in the DC region in 1997.

If trump succeeds with this plan, charter and magnet schools can be expected to increase, especially in high-poverty areas. This could also give a boost to online public schools.

Trump's plan could provide more money per student to states with more choices. We could expect fierce competition between schools to get us to enroll our children in a particular school. Parents need to know which schools to investigate before making a decision.

What parents need to know: different states have different laws governing schools of choice. Not all states hold charter, magnet, and other schools to the same standards as traditional public schools. Private schools face even less regulation.

Reduced regulation could lead to less quality control and less access for students with disabilities or other challenges. Parents should stay informed about education policy at the federal and state levels. It's important for parents to advocate for their children's needs in order to develop policies that truly improve access to education, rather than allowing inferior options to exist.

Trump plans to end common core state standards (CCSS)

CCSS has been a controversial topic in recent years. One of the key areas of controversy is what role states play in making tuition decisions compared to the federal government. Trump supports increasing state control while reducing the role of the federal government.

Trumps has said the same act with which he would establish school choice funds would also include language "ending common core and giving education oversight to local communities," according to trumps first hundred days plan.

Putting an end to CCSS may prove difficult for trump. CCSS has been adopted by individual states, making CCSS state law, not federal law. States were not required to adopt CCSS, although they were encouraged to adopt CCSS or similar standards in order to be preferred for race to the top funds.

It's unlikely standards will disappear anytime soon. Teachers across the country are fairly advanced in the CCSS implementation process. We don't know at this point how trump's administration proposes to keep schools at high levels.

What parents need to know: parents will be happy to stick around to observe a rigorous curriculum being taught to their children, regardless of what it is called. It will be important for all children in every state to receive a comparably challenging education.

A shrinkage or disappearance of the U.S. Department of education

Trump made various comments at different times about what exactly he would do with the department of education. He is consistent that the department of education would play a reduced role.

In a fox news sunday interview, trump said he would "fully consider the education department".

Mr. Trump has appointed betsy devos to head the department of education. Devos is a philanthropist who is known for promoting school choice. During devos' confirmed hearing, she appeared unfamiliar with right-to-school laws like IDEA. She also avoided answering questions about how she would maintain standards, accountability and access for all students.

Both eliminating or reducing the department of education is consistent with trump's desire to shift more control of education to states. Devos' appointment as head of the education department is consistent with an effort to reduce the federal government's role in education. Devos' philosophy on school choice appears to be based largely on reducing oversight.

Trump would not be the first republican president to propose abolishing the department of education. Ronald reagan also planned to eliminate the department of education created by former president jimmy carter. Reagan planned to return to the federal department of education – some state control of schools would be relinquished.

Reagan changed his position when the landmark government report, "A nation at risk," expressed concern about U.S. School performance compared to schools in other countries.

Reducing the federal government's role in overseeing education is intended to reduce regulation and allow for more innovation.

What parents need to know : historically, the U.S. Public education system was founded at the local level. Many states and territories already have laws that are the same or similar to federal laws. Note that changes at the federal level may impact your region.

On 22. February 2017, for example, the trump administration withdrew federal guidelines to protect transgender students so they could use facilities that match the gender the student identifies. The scaled-back policy was created from standard, proven methods used in many schools across the country.

In other words, many schools had these policies in place before the federal policy was created. These areas still have the policies and still provide protections for transgender students who use institutions that match their gender identity.

Only those areas that did not have such policies in place at the local level now lack such policies.

This is an example of how rolling back a federal policy can affect local areas. In areas where there is no similar policy, it is necessary to decide which policy is best for their communities.

Trump hopes to improve access to college and trade school

Trump says both on his website and in his first dog days plan that he wants to make college and trade school more affordable and accessible.

Trump 'has made critical comments that colleges and universities spend too much money on administration or simply don't spend it all and keep it in mutual funds'. His website says he would "work with congress on reforms to ensure universities make a good-faith effort to lower the cost of college and student debt in exchange for federal tax relief and tax dollars."

How does trump plan to do this ">

A quote from trump himself came from a rally in roanoke, VA

"…Universities receive massive federal funding and large tax breaks from their endowments, but they do not spend these funds on their students. I will work with congress to make sure these funds are not available unless universities start reducing tuition and student debt … "

Trump seems to be calling for increased oversight of federal and higher education budgets, and he is making sure that students who graduate will be able to make payments on school loans.

If trump implements this idea based only on what he has actually said, not much is likely to change. The cost of skyrocketing tuition is mainly due to a decrease in state funding. Reduced government funding has already prompted many universities to tighten their belts.

What parents need to know: we may expect more information from colleges about how they use foundation money to help students specifically.

Trump and student loans

Don't jump to conclusions about the university's debt and trump's comments about the department of education.

The federal department of education distributes federal aid such as pell grants, tuition assistance and student loans to students. While trump has said he might get rid of or reduce the department, his comments were said in the context of the federal government's role in k-12 education and not in relation to student loans.

Trump discussed an affordable student loan plan in columbus, ohio, in october 2016, saying, "we would cap repayment for an affordable portion of a borrower's income. Twelve points, five percent, and that gives you a lot to do with a lot to do and as a borrower they work hard and make their full payment for fifteen years. "

This sounds very similar to the obama administration's income-based repayment plans. Trump's plan would reduce the number of years from 20 to 15, while increasing the percentage from 10 to 12, 5 percent. Just based on what trump has said so far, this may increase income-related payments a bit, but loans would be made faster.

What's the bottom line for parents and families?

Trump has indicated he wants to reduce the federal government's role in education, give more power to states and has hinted at offering more private schools in the form of vouchers.

Key issue is that control of education is shifting even further toward state and local areas. This local freedom comes with a responsibility to ensure quality education for all.

It is important for parents to know how changes at the federal level will affect local schools. Parents may want to take a bigger role in helping to educate their children.