Should Congress vote to dismantel the Department of Education, changes could impact K-12 and higher education. Here's what to know just in case and why parents are being urged to get involved. 

The dismantling doesn't mean that schools would be completely left behind. Instead, there are two federal policies that would remain in place. 

The Elementary and Secondary Education Act and Individuals with Disabilities Education Act would remain. However, programs would become the responsibility of each state individually. 

States can then decide to use the funding however they choose, which can result in the marginalization of underserved communities. 

The dismantling of the DOE wouldn't mean the end of federal student aid programs. Instead, federal student loans would be overseen by other areas like the U.S. Department of the Treasury. 

Still, U.S. News reports that the intention behind the proposals towards higher education is to reallocate money by driving competition between institutions and distributing it accordingly. 

It's been argued that the proposals plan for reallocation will shift attention away from Historically Black colleges and universities that need the support. As a result, overall enrollment could drop. 

At the same time, other institutions outside of the traditional two or four-year schools could finally be acknowledged in a similar way. This could impact workforce expansion. 

A reported consistent lack of performance particularly amongst public schools is what has sparked the proposals. It's resulted in a decreased confidence in education. 

It's also led to a second attempt at (and the overall desire to) decreasing/eliminating associated costs. Parents are being urged to get involved at the state level. 

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