Granite superintendent says elimination of U.S. Education Department would not directly cut district funding

Superintendent Horsley of Granite School District said in a brief statement that a proposed elimination or downsizing of the U.S. Department of Education would not directly interrupt the district’s primary federal funding streams, though he said the district has “very little information” about potential implications.

Horsley said the distinction matters because the district receives federal money — primarily Title I and special education funds — that are administered through the state board of education rather than originating at the federal department. That means, he said, any change to federal structures could complicate administration but would not automatically eliminate the cash that flows to the district.

“We've received very little information about what the possible implications are,” Superintendent Horsley said. “The department and its existence actually have no direct tie to the funding mechanisms that help prop up and support our budget here in Granite School District.” He added that the funds “actually come to the state board of education and then get allocated to us based on our qualifications and our eligibility to receive those funds.”

Horsley outlined possible consequences if federal revenue were lost: “If we were to lose that revenue, in some other way we would have to make that up somehow either through a property tax increase or through additional funding from the state,” he said. He did not provide figures or a timeline for how much revenue could be at risk.

On compliance and oversight, Horsley said the district’s primary interactions with the federal government concern student privacy laws and civil-rights enforcement. He said the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and oversight from the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights are the main points of contact that affect district operations.

“Our expectation is that business will continue to be as usual,” Horsley said, while acknowledging the Department of Education could face reduced staffing or changes that might affect how the department administers programs.

Horsley said the district will update patrons and employees as the state or federal governments provide more information. “If you do have other questions feel free to shoot them over,” he added.