It’s uncertain how Whidbey’s school districts will be affected by a recent executive order that seeks to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education.

The order, signed by President Donald Trump on March 20, instructs Secretary of Education Linda McMahon to facilitate the closure of the department and return authority over education to the states and local communities “to the maximum extent appropriate and permitted by law.”

In a statement published March 20, McMahon said the government will continue to support K-12 and college students, students with special needs and others who rely on essential programs.

“Closing the Department does not mean cutting off funds from those who depend on them,” she stated.

Washington Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal and Rep. Rick Larsen challenged the legality of the order, stating that the department was created by Congress in 1979 and that it can only be dissolved by Congress in collaboration with the states.

McMahon, however, said the administration will “follow the law and eliminate the bureaucracy responsibly by working through Congress to ensure a lawful and orderly transition.” In the meantime she will look at what agencies can take on some of the department’s roles.

As programs and staff within the department are already being cut, Washington Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal worries this will affect the distribution of funds. In a statement last Thursday, he said state legislators must prepare to “double down” on their investments in public education. At the same time, he said the extent of the harm brought by the order is still unclear.

According to a map included in the press release, 17.3% of the Oak Harbor School District’s funding comes from the federal government, while the Coupeville and South Whidbey school districts receive 6.2% and 5.7% respectively — less than the statewide average of 6.9%.

The three districts told the News-Times they are waiting for more details and guidance.

If faced with the loss of federal funds, Coupeville School District Superintendent Shannon Leatherwood said the district would need to evaluate its programs based on efficiency (while still committing to vulnerable student populations), restructure staffing and resources and potentially make some cuts to a budget that is already tight.

”If federal funding diminishes without corresponding increases in state support, districts across Washington may need to seek additional local funding,” Leatherwood wrote in an email.

Jo Moccia, Superintendent of the South Whidbey School District, pointed out that the state has been underfunding public education and that the district is already collecting the maximum amount of levy dollars allowed by the state.

In a video addressing his constituents, Rep. Rick Larsen said the dismantlement would affect grants for college students, funding for special education and programs that create a baseline of opportunities for all districts regardless of how poor or rich they are.

According to Oak Harbor Public Schools Communications Officer Sarah Foy, it’s also unclear whether the closure of the Department of Education would affect Impact Aid, a federal program that funds school districts on federal property, like Oak Harbor’s Crescent Harbor, HomeConnection and Hand-in-Hand, which have a significant number of military families.

According to the executive order, titled “Improving Education Outcomes by Empowering Parents, States, and Communities,” the department promotes Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (or DEI) and gender ideology and has failed students, whose reading and math scores are near historical lows, as well as families, and therefore must hand authority over education back to the states and local communities.

The executive order, Reykdal wrote, aims at promoting private schools, leading to greater disparities between student demographics.

Note: This story was corrected on March 27. The original version inaccurately stated that the executive order sought to eliminate programs and resources offered to public schools. In reality, the order instructed Secretary of Education Linda McMahon to take the necessary steps to facilitate the department’s closure while ensuring the delivery of services, programs and benefits. Advocates worry that the staff and program cuts within the department will create challenges in the delivery of these resources. We sincerely regret the error.