Congress should dismantle the failing Department of Education

In the United States, since its establishment in May 1980, the Department of Education has faced criticism for its ineffective approach to federal intervention in education. Despite its stated mission to enhance student achievement and ensure equal access to education, high school seniors' math and reading outcomes remain unchanged nearly 45 years later. Moreover, there continues to be a significant academic achievement gap between the wealthiest and poorest students, which has persisted without improvement during the department's existence. Critics argue that this situation signals a failure that reflects the department's broader issues, including an accumulation of waste and inefficiency that burdens taxpayers. The department consists of more than 4,000 employees and has consumed billions of dollars of funding through federal allocation. A notable aspect of the department's overreach has involved altering Title IX regulations to redefine discrimination laws regarding gender identity, and enforcement was handed over to the Department of Agriculture. This move was perceived as a political agenda that threatened to withhold essential school meal funding from non-compliant institutions. The consolidation of powers in Washington has been argued to disrupt the historic role of state and local communities in education governance, essentially putting the federal government in a position that some believe undermines parental authority and local school districts. Consequently, many conservatives believe a restructuring or elimination of the Department of Education is necessary. They view this reorganization as a step towards returning control to parents and educators rather than a centralized government system that has shown evident inefficiency. Achieving this goal would necessitate action from Congress through legislative proposals such as a Department of Education Reorganization Act, which would aim to eliminate redundant and ineffective federal programs. Supporters of this ideological shift advocate that such changes would ultimately benefit the teaching community and increase accountability within educational systems.