Sen. Mike Rounds introduced a bill called the “Returning Education to Our States Act” to eliminate the U.S. Department of Education and redistribute its work to other departments. The bill has faced criticism from educators and Democrats in South Dakota, who believe it will negatively impact schools and students. Rounds defended the bill, stating it will provide local control in education and streamline the distribution of federal funding to schools. He hopes to pass the bill through reconciliation with a simple majority vote in the Senate.
Rounds’ bill would shift responsibilities such as the Fulbright-Hays Program to the Department of State, Native American-Serving Institutions Programs to the Department of the Interior, and Individuals with Disabilities Education Act to the Department of Health and Human Services. The Education Department’s Office of Civil Rights would fall under the Department of Justice.
Rounds believes eliminating the Education Department would save on administrative costs and redirect funding to areas where it is needed most. He has the support of his colleague Sen. John Thune, who believes in decentralizing decision-making in education. However, with Democrats currently in control of the Senate and White House, passing the bill may face challenges. Future attempts to dismantle the Education Department may require bipartisan support and negotiations on policy priorities, including issues like critical race theory and parental rights in education.
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