We all have questions about what it means if the US Department of Education closes or is reduced–especially educators, who serve students and communities every day. A few of the Columbia MNEA Executive Team asks MNEA Professional Practice Director, Samantha Hayes, questions about this very topic. Samantha Hayes’ role at MNEA is working with Missouri’s State Education Agency–the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE)--and she answers based on what she knows of what is currently happening and her forecasting of what could happen if more drastic cuts or changes to funding streams were to continue. This episode was recorded at the end of April 2025 and there may or may not be updates to this information by the time you listen.

Items referenced in this episode:

• NEA Website:
  • How Dismantling the Department of Education would Harm Students
  • Federal Education Funding by Congressional District
• Have You Heard podcast with ideas referenced in this episode
  • “The Best Schools You’ve Never Heard Of”
  • “Taking America Back (to a Less Educated Past)”

MNEA Members: Interested in being a part of the resolutions committee or becoming a host or guest on MNEA Connects? Follow this link: http://bit.ly/3kvyEFb or contact Samantha Hayes.

If you have any questions or suggestions, please contact Samantha Hayes at 800-392-0236 or Samantha.Hayes@mnea.org