Mike Rounds proposes to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education

In Washington, D.C., U.S. Senator Mike Rounds from South Dakota recently introduced the 'Returning Education to Our States Act.' This proposal seeks to abolish the U.S. Department of Education, established in 1979, arguing that it has become an excessive bureaucracy. Despite significant funding allocated per student, standardized test scores have declined over the past decade, which Rounds claims demonstrates the Department's ineffectiveness in improving education quality. The current federal spending on education is described as having inflated by 449% since its inception. Rounds emphasized that local control is essential when it comes to educational standards, suggesting that states and local school boards are better equipped to address the needs of students than federal bureaucrats in Washington, D.C. He recalls the positive impact of local teachers in his upbringing and affirms that educational institutions should determine the standards and practices that best serve their communities. This bill is part of a broader strategy that he has pursued for years to limit the federal government's role in education. To mitigate the potential vacuum left by the Department's dissolution, Rounds' legislation proposes redistributing its essential programs to other federal departments, including the Departments of Interior, Treasury, Health and Human Services, Labor, and State. Among the various programs targeted for reassignment are federal loan programs and support for Native American education. Rounds expressed optimism about collaborating with President-elect Trump and Republican majorities to achieve this policy change, emphasizing that such measures are critical as the nation transitions into a new political era next year. The proposed bill has drawn attention for its ambition to overhaul the existing education system by reducing federal control and enhancing local authority over educational matters.