Updates on Department of Education Changes
November 21, 2025
Background
Recently announced plans to transfer several Education Department offices to other federal agencies through interagency agreements raise important questions about impacts on students' behavioral health and educational access. The changes include moving programs that distribute billions in K-12 grants and postsecondary education support to the Department of Labor, along with relocating Indian education programs, childcare access initiatives, and foreign language education to Interior, Health and Human Services, and State departments respectively. While these moves purport to not require congressional approval under the proposed arrangements, they represent a significant restructuring of how federal education programs are administered.
APA/APASI Assessment
APA and APASI express concern regarding proposed changes to the Department of Education, emphasizing their potential impact on students' behavioral health, educational access, and community well-being. These concerns are grounded in psychological research demonstrating critical connections between educational systems and mental health outcomes. Key areas of concern include:
Reduced access to mental health services: In many communities, schools are an essential, and often the only, source of meeting the behavioral health needs of students and families. They are a key factor in a population health approach to treatment. Data indicates that increased access to education is associated with improved standards of living, health outcomes, and safer communities There are strong connections between education and the behavioral health and wellness of both individuals and communities (Alegria et al., 2023; Hout, 2012; Kondirolli et al., 2022; Oreopoulos et al., 2011; Niemeyer et al., 2019). Moving programs to agencies without education-focused expertise may disrupt these services, potentially reducing students' access to care at a time when mental health needs among young people are increasing.
Risk to educational quality and student support systems: Eliminating or dismantling the Department of Education is likely to have detrimental impacts on academic outcomes, education accessibility for students with disabilities, and student safety, civil rights, and psychological well-being. The changes are also likely to make it more difficult for students to gain higher levels of educational attainment, go to college, and afford higher education
Increased administrative and financial burden: Moving the administration of vital education programs to agencies that lack the staffing expertise to properly administer them is likely to make it more difficult for students, educators, schools and institutions, particularly those that are under-resourced and in rural communities, to receive critical funding and technical assistance (Herd et al., 2023).
APA's Position
APA remains committed to advocating for policies grounded in scientific evidence that support the educational and psychological development of all students. Policymakers should work together on bipartisan solutions that improve the health, well-being, and educational opportunities and outcomes of students in every community, nationwide.
What APA/APASI Is Doing
APA and APASI are monitoring this situation closely and keeping in contact with relevant stakeholders and coalition partners. We are disseminating information with our community as developments unfold.
References
Alegría, M., Alvarez, K., Cheng, M., & Falgas-Bague, I. (2023). Recent advances on social determinants of mental health: Looking fast forward. American Journal of Psychiatry, 180(7). https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ajp.20230371
Herd, P., Hoynes, H., Michener, J., & Moynihan, D. (2023). Administrative burden as a mechanism of inequality in policy implementation. RSF: The Russell Sage Foundation Journal of the Social Sciences, 9(4), 1–30. https://doi.org/10.7758/RSF.2023.9.4.01
Hout, M. (2012). Social and economic returns to college education in the United States. Annual Review of Sociology, 38, 379–400. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.soc.012809.102503
Kondirolli, F., & Sunder, N. (2022). Mental health effects of education. Health Economics. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1002/hec.4565
Niemeyer, H., Bieda, A., Michalak, J., Schneider, S., & Margraf, J. (2019). Education and mental health: Do psychosocial resources matter?. SSM - population health, 7, 100392. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssmph.2019.100392
Oreopoulos, P., & Salvanes, K. (2011). Priceless: The nonpecuniary benefits of schooling. Journal of Economic Perspectives, 25(1), 159–184. https://doi.org/10.1257/jep.25.1.159
Kondirolli, F., & Sunder, N. (2022). Mental health effects of education. Health Economics. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1002/hec.4565