SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – President Trump’s recent moves to dismantle the Department of Education have included Tuesday’s major downsizing to half the staff numbers and terminating leases on their offices in Chicago and New York, among others—moves that show he intends to make good on his promise to remove the agency completely. While the department has officially stated that the distribution of federal aid to schools would not be affected, it remains to be seen whether federally funded programs in South Shore will be impacted.

In El Dorado County, approximately 97% of the schools are eligible for Title I funding—the largest federally funded educational program that provides education programs and services for children from low-income families. While not every school utilizes these funds, the Lake Tahoe Unified School District (LTUSD) does set aside a large portion of federal funds they receive for that purpose.

Here in South Shore, the Head Start program provides Tahoe children from ages 3 to 5 with comprehensive preschool services that offer services in classroom settings with a focus on child development, health and nutrition, mental health, family community partnerships, and program governance. Whitney Burke, El Dorado County of Education’s director of communications and strategy said, “The El Dorado County of Education’s Head Start program remains fully operational and unaffected at this time.”

School districts also set aside federal funds for special education and disability support, which has a thriving community in the city. They also aid with immigrant support and English learner programs, as well as forest reserve funds.

LTUSD’s 2024 – 2025 Budget noted they received 4% in federal revenues, which in total was over $4 million. That broke down into the following categories:

• $1,166,589 to special education entitlement and special education discretionary grants
• $90,585 to forest reserve funds
• $666,524 to Title I
• $185,936 to Title II
• $9,604 to the Immigrant Student Program
• $191,160 to the English Learner Program

Dr. Todd Cutler, LTUSD Superintendent, told the Tribune, “There’s a lot of uncertainty about what will or will not happen with regards to education, with no specific action from the government. At this point in time, there’s no indication of change for schools other than what’s already been stated. Our current guidance is to move forward until something changes.”

California Attorney General Rob Bonta led the charge on a lawsuit against the Trump administration in response to the layoffs and reductions of the education department, under the banner of protecting civil rights, aiding low-income school districts, and students with disabilities.

19 other states and the District of Columbia joined the coalition, claiming that the administration cannot undo the actions of Congress that authorize the Department, dictate its responsibilities, and appropriate funds for it to administer.

Whether or not changes will occur in the future remains to be seen, but schools are certainly aware of the possibilities of their budgets and most importantly, the services they provide to local students, shifting through this administration.

Eli Ramos is a reporter for Tahoe Daily Tribune. They are part of the 2024–26 cohort of California Local News Fellows through UC Berkeley.