US President Donald Trump holds an executive order after signing it alongside US Secretary of Education Linda McMahon. Photo: AFP / Roberto Schmidt
The Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) education chief is urging students to 'stay calm' amid President Trump's executive order to essentially dismantle the US Department of Education.
CNMI Education Commissioner Lawrence Camacho said the public school system is navigating the impacts.
He said "it seems public schools in the US territory are unscathed with no changes directly affecting funding and implementation of federal grants."
The US President Donald Trump signed an executive order intended to essentially dismantle the federal Department of Education, making good on a long-standing campaign promise to conservatives.
Camacho said "his team is still working to get a full understanding on the impacts but in its current structure CNMI schools are protected."
Camacho said the CNMI Constitution and the Public Education Act of 1988 were designed to give the CNMI Public School System that authority: the power to efficiently deliver education and provide related services directly to the children of the Commonwealth by virtue of its independence and autonomy as a government instrumentality.
"The Public School System functions as a unitary state and local education agency governed by the policymaking body, the CNMI Board of Education. The Board of Education promulgates policies, rules, and regulations for the school district," Camacho said.
"The Public School System implements critical and essential services for elementary and secondary education in the Northern Mariana Islands, and we assure that these services will not be impacted by this executive order and the recent reduction in force of the US Department of Education employees."
He added that the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education employees who oversee the allocation, monitoring, and management of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act's title formula funding and discretionary grant programs were not impacted by the recent reduction in force.
"These funds will continue to flow normally, and program functions will not be disrupted. Federal education officials have said that the distribution of formula funds should not be affected by this announcement.
Northern Marianas College (NMC) president Dr Galvin Leon Guerrero also assured the college's students that NMC remains steadfast in its commitment to students, employees, and the CNMI community following Trump's executive order dismantling the Department of Education.
"To that effect, I have directed the college team to develop and implement effective response strategies to safeguard our people," Guerrero said.
"As a result of their work, we have determined that, for now, financial aid under the Federal Student Aid program will continue and vital college programs and services will also continue."
He added that NMC continues to work closely with local, regional, and national partners to monitor and assess the impact that this executive order and other executive actions are having, or may have, on college programs and services.
"For example, we have learned that Secretary of Education Linda McMahon recently announced, 'Closing the Department does not mean cutting off funds from those who depend on them.' As Secretary McMahon elaborated, 'We will continue to support K-12 students, students with special needs, college student borrowers, and others who rely on essential programs.'"
Guerrero also said that NMC has a phenomenal team that remains both vigilant and diligent in doing everything it can to continue serving the islands' students and the community.
"For over four decades, this team has done incredible work to meet the islands' workforce and economic needs, build new, state-of-the-art facilities, and improve the lives of thousands of students. Indeed, the Northern Marianas College team represents the best of the Marianas.
Former Education commissioner Rita A. Sablan said the potential closure of the U.S. Department of Education raises serious concerns about the future of education in the Commonwealth and the nation.
She said such a decision would jeopardize the critical role the federal government plays in ensuring equitable opportunities and quality education for all children.
"During my tenure as commissioner of Education, the U.S. Department of Education was an invaluable support system for the advancement of education for our children here in the Northern Mariana Islands. Through its dedicated funding mechanisms tailored to the unique needs of insular areas, department played a crucial role in elevating the level of education in our islands."
Through the Department of Education, Sablan said the CNMI school district made significant strides and its students became increasingly competitive on a national scale.
"This progress is directly linked to the programs and best practices fostered by the U.S. Department of Education, which have empowered our teachers to become highly qualified and attain national recognition."
She added thar the Department of Education's contributions extend beyond funding as it provides essential guidance, resources, and support that enables Public School System or PSS to do accomplish the following:
- Implement evidence-based practices in classrooms
- Develop and enhance curricula
- Provide professional development opportunities for educators
- Ensure equitable access to education for all students.
