CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – The potential abolition of the U.S. Department of Education has sparked widespread discussion, with concerns over funding, equity, and state-level responsibility. Lee Elberson, CEO of Clayborne Test Prep and Tutoring and WINA’s education analyst, discussed the implications during an interview on Cville Right Now Live. “I think abolishing it could mean a number of different things, and I think there would be a long transitionary period,” Elberson said, emphasizing the uncertainty surrounding the proposed change.

The U.S. Department of Education, established in 1979, plays a role in setting national policies, allocating funding, and upholding educational standards. According to Elberson, removing the department could have a disproportionate impact on low-income states and school districts that rely heavily on federal funding. He noted that federal public education funding is not evenly distributed, citing states like Mississippi, Kentucky, and Arkansas, which rely on federal funds for 20-25% of their school revenue. Losing that support, he said, “could be a drastic rug pull.”

Elberson also raised concerns about the potential impact on special education programs and higher education funding. He said that without federal oversight, states would need to implement their own policies, which could lead to disparities in educational quality. Additionally, he warned that shifting student loans from government programs to private lenders could result in higher interest rates and the possible loss of Pell Grants for low-income students. “If these student loans go private,” Elberson said, “I think that’s going to be catastrophic because I can guarantee that the interest rates will go up.”

While some argue that increased state control could foster educational innovation, Elberson noted that many experts worry the lack of federal oversight could widen disparities between wealthy and underfunded school districts.

Listen to the interview: