LTC One-to-One

There’s been a lot of noise lately about the Department of Education—what’s changing, what isn’t, and what it all might mean for schools. In this episode, we slow things down with the LTC's Mindy Fiscus, walking through the conversation in a simple, accessible way for educators and school leaders. We start with an overview of what people mean when they talk about the “redistribution” of the Department of Education, and why moving responsibilities around is not the same as eliminating the department altogether. Along the way, we clear up some common misconceptions, including where education funding actually comes from and what’s happening (and not happening) to federal education dollars. We also zoom out to talk about what may happen next and how districts are navigating uncertainty. That includes quick updates on E-Rate, the ongoing ESSER funding cliff, broadband investments, and more. If you’ve been feeling confused, concerned, or just tired of trying to decode education news, this episode is here to help you make sense of what we know right now—and how to move forward in uncertain times. Connect with Mindy by visiting ltcillinois.org/about/staff Learn more about ERate support: ltc.site/erate