U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds has introduced a bill, S.5384, called the “Returning Education to Our States Act,” which seeks to abolish the U.S. Department of Education and redistribute its programs to various other departments. Rounds argues that his bill would bring local control back to education and streamline the distribution of federal funding to schools by reducing bureaucratic red tape. The bill has faced criticism from organizations such as the South Dakota Education Association and the South Dakota Democratic Party, who argue that it would have negative effects on schools and students in the state.
Rounds believes that his bill could pass with 50 votes through reconciliation, a legislative process that allows for passage with a simple majority, rather than the usual 60-vote requirement. He has the support of his colleague, U.S. Sen. John Thune, who also believes that decentralizing decision-making and funding in education could lead to better outcomes. However, Democrats and Independents who oppose eliminating the Department of Education still control the Senate and White House, making it unlikely for the bill to pass in the current session.
Rounds’ bill follows the campaign promise of former President Donald Trump to end the Department of Education. Trump’s education policy agenda includes cutting federal funding for schools teaching certain ideologies and implementing measures such as parental rights in education and merit-based pay for teachers. Eliminating the Department of Education would require a significant restructuring of federal oversight for education funding and policy decisions at the district level.
Photo credit
www.argusleader.com
