Central Oregon schools are left in limbo as the Trump administration seeks to close the U.S. Department of Education.

Education leaders say that even though they don’t know exactly what will change in Central Oregon, the changes do not affect what they do every day: educate Central Oregon students, whether they are kindergartners or community college students.

Bend-La Pine Schools officials said it’s too early to say how the changes will impact the district. Redmond School District officials similarly said they are monitoring the situation closely.

Central Oregon Community College President Laurie Chesley was clear that her main priority is supporting students and their education goals.

“While we continue to review the potential implications of the executive order, we want to reassure our students that their current financial aid remains secure and spring term financial aid payments are moving ahead as scheduled,” she said in a statement.

Oregon State University is similarly still figuring out its next steps.

“The administration has stated that the executive order will not impact federal student aid. While we are still assessing potential impacts to the university, OSU spring term financial aid disbursements are already in process and not impacted by (the) announcement,” said Rib Odom, Oregon State University’s vice president for university relations and marketing.

The High Desert Education Service District hasn’t seen any impact to its funding or programs yet, said Superintendent Sara Johnson in a statement.

“While there is a lot of advocacy happening for adequate education funding in Oregon, federal orders haven’t directly impacted HDESD funding or services at this time. We check every morning for any changes that could affect us and so far, the changes related to the Department of Education do not seem to affect the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) or Title programs,” she wrote. “As we plan for the upcoming biennium, we are taking a thoughtful and strategic approach to ensure we continue providing high-quality services while maintaining financial stability.”

The Trump administration slashed half the department’s workforce earlier this month, which included staff members and contracts that helped maintain the Free Application for Federal Student Aid website. President Donald Trump signed an executive order aimed at closing the department, though eliminating it entirely can only be done by an act of Congress.

What does the U.S. Department of Education handle locally?

The department was originally created in 1979, and conservatives have called for it to be dismantled for decades.

Local and state leadership handle education curriculum and policy in the U.S. On the federal level, the education department handles a small percentage of school district funding through federal programs like Head Start and the school lunch program run by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, according to the education department’s website.

Though the changes at the education department don’t affect the agriculture department directly, the agriculture department has closed two programs, the Local Food for Schools program and Local Food Purchase Assistance program, which ensured students received local healthy food in an effort to cut costs.

The education department also has a large hand in civil rights and equal opportunities for students through Title VI, which prohibits discrimination in programs run through federal financial assistance; Title IX, which prohibits sex-based discrimination, including sexual harassment, for education activities that receive federal financial assistance; Title I, which provides aid for poverty-stricken students, and more.

Just 6% of Bend-La Pine Schools’ budget comes from the federal government, and it is mainly intended for nutrition, schools in poverty-stricken areas and support for students with disabilities.

On the college side, the education department handles Pell grants, financial aid, loan assistance, work-study grants, education assistance for veterans such as the GI Bill and more.

Reporter: narellanosummer@bendbulletin.com, 541-383-0325