Teachers overwhelmingly oppose closing U.S. Department of Education

A recent survey conducted by Teacher Tapp has revealed skepticism among K-12 teachers in the United States regarding the new Education Secretary. The survey, published on March 7 on the Teacher Tapp website, indicates that only a small fraction of teachers express optimism about her leadership.

The survey results show that just 19% of elementary school teachers and 14% of middle and high school teachers feel optimistic about the tenure of Linda McMahon, the new Education Secretary. Furthermore, nearly 80% of teachers oppose disbanding the Department of Education, despite suggestions from the current administration.

According to The New York Post, in the fiscal year 2024, the U.S. Department of Education's budget was $79 billion for discretionary programs and $251 billion in total funding. This budget supports several initiatives, including Title I grants for low-income schools, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) for special education, and Pell Grants for low-income college students. Specifically, Title I received $18 billion, IDEA was allocated $15 billion, and Pell Grants exceeded $30 billion in funding.

Efforts to eliminate the U.S. Department of Education have been made during both the Reagan and Trump administrations, as reported by The Economist. In the 1980s, President Ronald Reagan attempted to dismantle the department due to concerns over federal intrusion into local affairs but was unsuccessful because of a Democratic-controlled House of Representatives. Similarly, in 2025, President Donald Trump initiated plans to abolish it, criticizing it for promoting a "woke" agenda and aiming to transfer educational oversight to states.

Teacher Tapp describes itself as an innovative survey tool designed to capture educators' perspectives nationwide through short, anonymous daily surveys. These insights aim to inform evidence-based discussions among policymakers, researchers, and school administrators.