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Trump wants to get rid of the Department of Education. How can that happen?

President-elect Donald Trump has long promised to eliminate the Education Department but was unable to do so during his first term.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — As President-elect Donald Trump assembles his transition team and appoints members to his Cabinet, there are growing rumors that he plans to eliminate the federal Department of Education

If Trump did get rid of the Education Department, how would it happen and what would change? Let's connect the dots. 

The Department of Education was formed in 1980 under President Jimmy Carter. It's in charge of collecting data for American schools, establishing federal policies, distributing federal funds and administering federal student loans and financial aid. 

Trump has long vowed to eliminate the department. During his first term, he proposed merging the Education and Labor departments. However, the plan never got off the ground and the departments remain separate. 

RELATED: Michele Morrow nominated for education role in Trump administration

Calls to close the department aren't new; however, shutting it down entirely would take Congressional approval, something no president has been able to secure. Former President Ronald Reagan attempted to shut it down in 1981, but the plan stalled. Meanwhile, Republican President George W. Bush actually favored a stronger federal role, which led to the No Child Left Behind Act

Even if Trump doesn't shut down the Education Department, he still could influence the guidelines schools must meet in order to secure federal funding. 

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