Representative David Rouzer’s newly introduced States’ Education Reclamation Act seeks to abolish the Department of Education, returning its $200 billion annual budget to states for local education initiatives. This action, echoing previous attempts by the Representative, reignites the long-standing debate over federal versus state control of education. While proponents argue for increased local autonomy and improved resource allocation, critics express concerns about potential funding disparities and negative consequences for under-resourced schools. The bill’s fate now lies with the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
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Vivek Ramaswamy criticized the low 2022 eighth-grade reading scores, advocating for the elimination of the Department of Education as a solution. However, education experts dispute this claim, asserting that the department’s role in funding, data collection, and research is crucial for monitoring student progress and improving literacy. They argue that eliminating the department would not address the underlying issues impacting reading proficiency. Instead, increased investment in research and grant programs within the department could prove more effective.
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Senator Mike Rounds introduced the “Returning Education to Our States Act,” aiming to abolish the Department of Education and redistribute its $200 billion budget to other federal agencies and states. The bill faces an uphill battle, requiring a 60-vote supermajority in the Senate, though Rounds hopes to utilize a reconciliation process to pass it with a simple majority. Experts express concern over the potential negative impacts on students with disabilities and marginalized groups, highlighting the loss of crucial federal protections and funding. The bill’s passage would represent a long-held Republican goal, reversing decades of federal involvement in education.
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Senator Mike Rounds’s “Returning Education to Our States Act” proposes eliminating the Department of Education, redistributing its $238 billion budget to other federal agencies. This action, supported by President-elect Trump, aims to return control of education to states and local communities, arguing the current department is overly bureaucratic and ineffective. While the bill faces an uphill battle in the Senate due to Democratic opposition, similar attempts to abolish the department have been made by Republicans since its inception in 1979. The bill’s passage is considered unlikely in the current congressional session.
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Senator Mike Rounds’ “Returning Education to Our States Act” proposes abolishing the US Department of Education within one year. The bill redistributes the department’s programs to other federal agencies, including Interior, Treasury, Health and Human Services, Labor, and State, based on program relevance. This action aims to return education responsibilities to states and aligns with President-elect Trump’s vision. The legislation details the specific transfer of programs across these various departments.
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President-elect Trump has appointed Linda McMahon as his choice for Secretary of Education. McMahon, a former WWE CEO and Small Business Administration administrator, brings extensive business and leadership experience to the role. Trump’s stated goal is to return education control to the states, potentially involving significant restructuring of the Department of Education. McMahon’s appointment could also lead to policy reversals, such as changes to Title IX protections for LGBTQ+ students.
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The idea of dismantling the Department of Education and replacing it with a new, free university called the “American Academy” funded by taxing, fining, and suing private universities has sparked a firestorm of criticism and concern. Many see this as a dangerous move that would leave millions of students and families in the lurch, while potentially jeopardizing the future of public education in the United States.
The proposed plan has been likened to the “American Academy” model implemented in Hungary, where the government has invested heavily in a network of facilities offering free accommodation, supplementary education, and paid work opportunities to students, aiming to cultivate a new national elite.… Continue reading
Superintendent Walters has issued a memo outlining his plan to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education. This move has sparked widespread criticism, with many arguing that it will lead to a decline in the quality of education across the country.
Walters’ memo cites several reasons for dismantling the Department of Education, including the need to “champion parents’ rights,” “end social indoctrination,” and “protect patriotism.” He claims that the department has been overstepping its bounds and has been “ruining education” for decades.
However, critics argue that Walters’ proposals are thinly veiled attempts to restrict access to quality education and to promote a narrow, conservative ideology.… Continue reading
Three employees of Houston’s historically black high schools have been arrested in a scheme where people certified to teach paid to have someone else take their state certification exams. The ringleaders identified include Vincent Grayson, a teacher and basketball coach, Nicholas Newton, an assistant principal, and LaShonda Roberts, another assistant principal, alongside two people not employed by the district. Those involved in the scheme, which prosecutors allege has earned over $300,000, face felony counts of engaging in organized criminal activity based on money laundering and tampering with government records. Investigations into the scheme revealed at least 400 tests were taken, resulting in at least 200 teachers being falsely certified. The Houston Independent School District, the largest in Texas and eighth-largest in the country, are now attempting to track down these teachers.
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Elon Musk’s recent remarks about the overrated nature of college education strike me as particularly thought-provoking and, frankly, deeply troubling. As someone reflecting on the shifting landscape of education and its societal implications, I can’t help but feel a sense of dissonance when a high-profile Ivy League graduate like Musk suggests that others should bypass this crucial stage of life. His comments echo a growing sentiment among certain circles that higher education is unnecessary, but this notion is fraught with contradictions, especially coming from someone who successfully navigated the elite corridors of academia.
Musk’s description of college education as “overrated” is rooted in the idea that many graduates leave with substantial debt but lack practical skills for the workforce.… Continue reading
John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood