Rounds re-introduces bill to eliminate federal Department of Education

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.