Whether uneasy about the proposed dismantling of the federal Department of Education or happy to see what might amount to the back of it, we can all probably agree that uncertainty challenges our schools’ ability to operate properly or well.

The same sort of logic applies to the argument — made on both sides of the aisle — against the freezing of billions of dollars in federal education grants. Just over a week ago, weeks late and under considerable pressure, the DOE said it would release those funds. This frees up $20 million in funding that might otherwise have been denied to Maine.

“We want to bring education back to the states, take the federal government out of it; little, tiny bit of supervision, but very little, almost nothing, like to make sure they speak English. That’s about all we need,” President Trump said in the middle of July.

Leaders of some Maine school districts disagree with that assessment, pointing out that everything from recruitment to language support and after-school programs will be endangered by the elimination of funding that supports it. Planning and budgeting for the coming year has already been nightmarish. State authority is well and good, but who thinks Maine is suddenly ready to go it alone? Where will our schools be without the oversight of the federal agency, which has paid attention to equity and access since 1980?

Secretary of Education Linda McMahon called the July 14 Supreme Court decision allowing her to proceed with the slashing of the agency a “significant win” for families and students.

Unfortunately for McMahon — and for all of us — it’s simply too soon to say.