Educators Concerned About This Trump Education Cut in Arizona

During the pandemic shutdown, there was a meme floating around the internet.

The meme read, "We're not all in the same boat."

It was a powerful reminder that the pandemic affected everyone differently, particularly in education and access to resources.

Nowhere is that sentiment more apparent than in schools across Arizona.

Arizona's Students: Maelstrom in the Pandemic

Even though they weren't sitting behind a classroom desk, students were still expected to attend classes from home during the lockdowns.

Educators began using meeting software like Zoom and Microsoft Teams to continue teaching classes. Some students were well equipped with good computers and a robust internet backbone to connect to right in their own homes. Some districts even supplied the hardware to keep students connected.

READ: 10 Items Will Skyrocket in Arizona Under Trump's Trade War

But many students weren't so lucky. Educators scrambled to keep up, but many students fell behind, and they're still treading water in that vast ocean, struggling to catch up to their peers.

President Trump Canceling this Arizona Learning Resource

It's no secret President Trump has directed the newly formed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to cut billions from the federal budget.

So far, the agency has slashed funding to about $55 billion. They've achieved these goals through contract cancellations, workforce reductions, asset sales, and ending federally funded programs they've deemed redundant or unnecessary.

READ: Trump's Mandate to End Telework For Arizona's Federal Workers

One program on the chopping block is the Learning Acceleration Partnership, which was used in Arizona to "improve learning conditions for underserved students and to stabilize the educator workforce."

The funding in Arizona supports 20 full-time employees across 15 schools, including Learning Acceleration Specialists and coaches, who were added when students returned to classrooms following the pandemic lockdowns.

Cutting DEI Programs in Arizona

DOGE is targeting funding for the Learning Acceleration Partnership as part of its effort to end federal support for programs it believes have a left-leaning agenda, specifically programs that support DEI, Critical Race Theory, and Social Justice.

Arizona's students could be the big losers in this equation. Cutting funding to this program may impact students already struggling academically, and these kids could fall further behind.

READ: DOGE Cuts Could Be Devastating for Arizona Veterans

It's estimated that cutting this single program in Arizona would save approximately $3.8 million per year.

Some other state programs and funding from non-profit sources are already in place to support academic growth in Arizona. With any luck, they'll be able to fill the void.

Sources: Maricopa County School Superintendent | AZ Central | 12News | Newsweek