K–12 educators worry they won’t be able to defend their most vulnerable students as Trump reforms curriculums, strips classroom protections and moves to dismantle the Department of Education. Annenberg Media interviews with K–12 educators, policy experts and nonprofit leaders across the country—in red and blue states—after the election revealed a similar sentiment: What a classroom looks and feels like will change, but the extent of change is uncertain. Most of Trump’s actions were anticipated; his speed and intensity were not. Julie Marsh, who has taught and researched education policy at the University of Southern California for 14 years, said the idea of eliminating the Education Department is more “symbolic” than anything. Republicans have proposed getting rid of it almost since its inception, sending education “back to the states” and enacting universal school choice to “restore parental rights.” The federal government accounts for about 14% of public K-12 education funding, primarily supporting low-income students and special education programs. State and local authorities have more power over education—and many of the reforms Trump seeks are already enforced under Republican governors and state laws. Marsh said she is more concerned about how the Trump administration will “weaponize civil rights enforcements” in classrooms and courts nationwide.