Senator Mike Rounds (R) S.D.
WASHINGTON (South Dakota Searchlight) – U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds, R-South Dakota, re-introduced his bill Wednesday to eliminate the federal Department of Education and move “all critical federal programs” to other departments.
Rounds introduced similar legislation in November, during the prior session of Congress.
President Donald Trump signed an executive order in March directing U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon to dismantle her department and “return education authority to the states.” The move followed a 50% reduction in department staff.
Ultimately, only Congress — which established the 46-year-old department — has the authority to eliminate it.
Rounds sent a press release saying his legislation would not cut any education funding. He said some funds would flow to states as block grants while other programs would be funded through other federal agencies. He said eliminating the department’s “bureaucracy” would save the federal government approximately $2.2 billion annually.
“We all know that teachers, parents, local school boards and state Departments of Education know what’s best for their students, not bureaucrats in Washington,” Rounds said in the release.
Additionally, under Rounds’ legislation:
- Schools would no longer be required to administer standardized assessments or track performance for identifying struggling schools, which Rounds said would allow “for more flexibility in assessment and school improvement strategies.”
- Schools would no longer have to “comply with complex Title I funding regulations” (Title I funding supports schools with high numbers of low-income students), or “maintenance of effort standards or provide equitable services for private school students,” according to Rounds, who said that would “simplify financial management.”
- “Schools would have more autonomy to set teacher certification standards and professional development plans, reducing federal oversight and allowing for tailored approaches to educator qualifications,” Rounds said.
Earlier this year, when Trump moved to dismantle the federal department, some public education advocates in South Dakota reacted negatively.
“If you close down the Department of Education without a plan for ensuring that programs like Title I and special education services continue, then what happens to the students who depend on them?” said Sandra Waltman, director of public affairs for the South Dakota Education Association.
Where Education Department programs would go
Sen. Mike Rounds’ legislation would move Education Department programs to the following federal agencies.
Department of Interior
- Indian Education Formula Grants and National Activities
- Native American and Alaska Native Children in School Program
- Special Programs for Indian Children
Department of the Treasury
- William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program
- Federal Family Education Loan Program
- Federal Perkins Loan Program
- Federal Pell Grant Program
- Health Education Assistance Loan Program
- Education Sciences Reform Act
- Education Technical Assistance Act
- National Assessment of Educational Progress Authorization Act
Department of Health and Human Services
- Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
- Education of the Blind
- Helen Keller Center for Deaf/Blind Youth and Adults
- Special Education Grants
- Scholarships for Opportunity and Results Act
- Special Olympics Sport and Empowerment
- McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act
Department of Labor
- All Office of Career, Technical and Adult Education programs
- Randolph Sheppard Vending Facility Program
- Vocational Rehabilitation State Grants
- American Indian Vocational Rehabilitation Services Program
- Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act
- Adult Education and Family Literacy Act
- Education of the Deaf Act
- Randolph-Sheppard Act
- Helen Keller National Center Act
Department of Defense
- Impact Aid Programs
Department of Justice
- Civil Rights Enforcement
Department of State
- Fulbright-Hays Program
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