BSU Community,

As part of our commitment to keeping you informed on important matters impacting our campus, I wanted to take a moment to provide clarity on the role of the U.S. Department of Education, particularly its work in promoting equality and protecting civil rights within our education system.

What is the U.S. Department of Education?

The U.S. Department of Education plays an essential role in ensuring that all students, regardless of their background, have access to a fair and equitable education. The department is a cabinet-level executive branch agency responsible for overseeing education policy, gathering educational data, and administering funding for programs and individuals. The department's functions include supporting state and local education systems, promoting educational equity for all students, providing grants and loans to higher education institutions and students, collecting higher education data, and tracking K-12 student achievement. You can learn more in this NPR article, “A guide to what the U.S. Education Department does (and doesn't) do.”

A key aspect of the department’s mission is enforcing civil rights laws to prevent discrimination based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, or age. Through its Office for Civil Rights, the department works tirelessly to investigate complaints of discrimination, monitor schools for compliance, and issue guidance to ensure schools uphold their legal obligations under these laws. The department also works on policies and programs that support equal opportunities for all students, helping to close educational gaps and promote diversity in educational settings.

Can the U.S. Department of Education be dissolved?

Today, the current administration released an executive order to “Return Power Over Education to States and Local Communities.” In recent media discussions, there has been talk about the possibility of dissolving the U.S. Department of Education. However, it is important to note that such a move would require approval from Congress.

The department was established in 1979 by law, and any effort to dissolve it would require the passage of new legislation. This means that the issue would be debated and voted on by elected representatives in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. The process for dissolution would be a significant and lengthy one, as it would involve thorough consideration of the potential impacts on civil rights protections, federal education funding, and overall access to education.

Our elected officials are entrusted with ensuring that proper procedures and processes are followed throughout this legislative process. This includes careful evaluation of the consequences of any changes to education policy and the rights of students.

What will Bowie State University do?

Please know that we will continue to work with our elected officials to ensure support for our mission. We will closely monitor any developments related to this issue. We are committed to keeping you informed of any important updates, legislative actions, and potential changes that may impact our campus.

We have created a webpage that outlines “Information Related to 2025 Federal Orders and Actions.” This webpage provides helpful resources on campus and information through external resources such as The White House, U.S. Department of Education, the Maryland Attorney General's Federal Actions Response, and more. It also includes “Resources for Federal Workers” who have recently been displaced.

We understand how important these issues are to our community and the future of education in our country. If you have any questions or concerns, please fill out this form.

Please know that we will continue to advocate for policies that protect equality and access to education for all students. Should there be any significant developments, we will provide updates and additional resources to help you navigate these changes.

Sincerely,

Aminta H. Breaux

President

Bowie State University