Arts Education Alliance Statement on U.S. Department of Education Program Transfers

Arts Education Alliance Statement on U.S. Department of Education Program Transfers

November 2025

The Arts Education Alliance is sounding the alarm over the Trump Administration’s recent decision to move several major U.S. Department of Education (ED) programs to other federal agencies through six new interagency agreements. Shifting these core responsibilities away from the nation’s primary education agency undermines stable, equitable access to learning opportunities for students across the country.

Under the new agreements, key programs within the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE) and institution-based programs within the Office of Postsecondary Education (OPE) have been reassigned to the Department of Labor. Indian Education programs are now housed within the Department of the Interior, International Education and Foreign Language programs have been transferred to the Department of State, and both the Child Care Access Means Parents in School (CCAMPIS) program and Foreign Medical Accreditation have been moved to the Department of Health and Human Services.

Fragmenting these programs across multiple agencies risks weakening the coordinated federal support that is fundamental to providing students across the country with a balanced education. The OESE, home to the Office of Well-Rounded Education, administers essential initiatives authorized under the Every Student Succeeds Act, including Titles I, II, IV-A, and the Assistance for Arts Education program. These programs help guarantee that students nationwide have access to strong arts learning opportunities that enrich their academic experience and support their well-being. Disrupting centralized support for these programs could have serious consequences for the many schools, districts, and arts programs that rely on these resources.

The Arts Education Alliance firmly opposes the decision to transfer these programs. At a time when students need greater access to high-quality arts instruction, shifting programs away from the Department of Education jeopardizes the unified leadership that educators and families depend on and puts the future of equitable arts education at risk.

We remain committed to advocating for students and educators across the country. As FY 2026 budget discussions resume following the nation’s longest government shutdown, we urge arts education supporters to continue contacting members of Congress. Now is the time to push for sustained and increased federal investments to ensure these programs receive strong, coherent support, even under new agency management. When we invest in arts education, we invest in a future that prioritizes students’ well-being and self-expression, one that relies on federal policy to maintain consistent, equitable access so these opportunities are available to every student.