Our union is continuously monitoring developments with the Department of Education and proposed Trump Administration changes to how federal education funding and services are delivered to states.
Recently, as several states have put forward proposals to “cut strings” tied to federal education dollars, we’ve fielded many questions from educators and parents about block grants and what they would mean for Texas schools.
Block grants are federal funds given to states with minimal restrictions. While they are intended to offer flexibility, in practice, they often reduce funding for public services, divert resources from disadvantaged communities, and open the door to misuse — much like the school voucher schemes that have occupied the Legislature. Rather than empowering local governments, block grants often expand the control of state agencies like the Texas Education Agency (TEA) at the expense of local decision-making.
Block grants have been particularly harmful to public education. In 1982, the Reagan Administration consolidated 28 education programs into a single block grant (Chapter 2), slashing funding from $713.9 million to $418 million. That funding was steadily cut until the program was eliminated in 2008.
Despite claims of “flexibility,” block grants often undermine commitments to vulnerable populations, putting programs like Medicaid and Title I at risk. Flexibility allows funds to be reallocated away from high-need communities, leading to reduced equity and misallocated resources. Ultimately, block grants shrink support for essential services and fail to meet the needs of those they’re supposed to serve.
In a state like Texas, which has chronically underfunded special education and has shown eagerness to use federal dollars to plug budget gaps so it can pay for other controversial priorities, such no-strings-attached funding brings legitimate concerns.