Money from the U.S. Department of Education , whose new leader backs calls for its closure, pays for a variety of functions in the Palm Beach County School District.

President Donald Trump was expected to sign an order as soon as Wednesday, March 12 that starts the process of putting newly confirmed Education Secretary Linda McMahon out of a job by dismantling the department.

The agency announced on Tuesday, March 11 that it had cut its workforce in half, firing about 1,300 people.

To abolish the department fully, Trump would need Congress. And McMahon is prepared to do that.

“His directive to me, clearly, is to shut down the Department of Education, which we know we’ll have to work with Congress, you know, to get that accomplished,” she told Fox News on Tuesday.

Title I: Help for schools with more low-income students

Title I: The district got $58 million in 2024-2025 to help it educate the roughly 100,000 students who attend schools with a high-percentage of low-income students. That money is used to help pay for teacher professional development, encourage parental involvement, curriculum, instructional and technological supplies, to provide for extra time for teachers to work with students, for attendance programs and community engagement.

Title II: Recruiting teachers

Title II: The district got $7 million in 2024-2025 to help it recruit, train, retain and mentor teachers.

Title III:

Title III : The district got $4.5 million in 2024-2025 to help it educate students learning English. According to a state summary, Title III money provides "academic and linguistic support through additional bilingual staff, supplemental instructional materials, and language acquisition software."

IDEA: Help for students with autism, speech issues, other disabilities

IDEA : The district got $48 million to help it educate students with some form of disability. The range of those disabilities is large, including students who are autistic, have hearing, speech or vision limitations, intellectual or emotional disabilities, physical or learning disabilities and those with traumatic brain injuries. IDEA money is used to provide technical and instructional support, staff development and encourage parental involvement.