Senator Mike Rounds has introduced a bill named the “Returning Education to Our States Act” to abolish the Department of Education.
Senator John Thune, a Republican from South Dakota, introduced a bill called S.5384 in the Senate. The bill was read twice on Thursday and has been referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions.
The bill introduced by Sen. Rounds has come under fire from the South Dakota Education Association (SDEA), a prominent organization representing over 6,000 teachers in the state. According to SDEA President Loren Paul, the proposed legislation could have significant and long-term detrimental impacts on South Dakota’s schools and students.
Dan Ahlers, the executive director of the South Dakota Democratic Party, who ran against Rounds in the 2020 Senate race but was unsuccessful, criticized Rounds’ bill, labeling it as “reckless” and warning that it could potentially undermine the educational opportunities for all children in South Dakota.
In an interview with the USA TODAY Network on Tuesday, Rounds dismissed the criticism and emphasized that his bill aims to preserve local control in education while providing districts with the necessary federal funding, but with fewer restrictions.
According to Rounds, the individuals who are complaining are simply doing what they do best. He states that his team is accustomed to such complaints and believes that those who are complaining have minimal impact at the state level.
During the past year and a half, Rounds has engaged with educators in South Dakota to understand and address their frustrations. He acknowledges the challenges they face when dealing with the federal bureaucracy and the rigid rules imposed by the Department to access the much-needed funding desired by state and local governments, as well as tribes.
According to Rounds, educators have expressed various frustrations, including concerns about the type of report being delivered annually, changing guidelines, low test scores, and the “DEI component” (diversity, equity, and inclusion). However, Rounds did not provide specific details about the policies that educators disagreed with in this component.
What’s in S.5384?
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Rounds’ proposed legislation aims to streamline the government’s operations by eliminating the Education Department (ED) and reallocating its responsibilities to other existing departments. As an example, the Fulbright-Hays Program would fall under the oversight of the Department of State.
The Department of the Interior will assume responsibility for various programs that serve Native American communities. These include Native American-Serving Institutions Programs, Alaska Native Education Equity Program, American Indian Vocational Rehabilitation Services Program, Indian Education Formula Grants and National Activities, Native American and Alaska Native Children in School Program, Native Hawaiian Education, Special Programs for Indian Children, Tribally Controlled Postsecondary Career and Technical Education Program, and Impact Aid Programs.
The Department of the Treasury will assume control of various education programs, including the 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, and the Education Sciences Reform Act.
The Department of Health and Human Services will assume responsibility for several important programs, including the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, the American Printing House for the Blind, the Helen Keller Center for Deaf/Blind Youth and Adults, the Federal Real Property Assistance Program, and Special Education Grants. Additionally, Title I funding will fall under the purview of HHS, according to Rounds.
The Department of Labor will assume responsibility for various programs, including the Office of Career, Technical and Adult Education programs, the National Technical Institute for the Deaf, the Randolph Sheppard Vending Facility Program, and Vocational Rehabilitation State Grants.
The Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division is tasked with receiving complaints and enforcing federal civil rights laws, such as the Rehabilitation Act’s section 504, Title IX, and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Additionally, the Department of Justice will oversee the Education Department’s Office of Civil Rights.
Rounds expressed his desire to employ block grants as a substitute for the current case-by-case authorization process for funding decisions made by bureaucrats in Washington D.C. These block grants would be allocated to state agencies or Indian tribes. He emphasized that this new approach would not result in a decrease in federal funding for education in South Dakota.
“More: How Trump’s plan to close the Department of Education could impact South Dakota schools”
Can he pass it?
Bills advocating for the elimination of the ED have been put forth in previous sessions. Senator Rounds expressed his longstanding efforts in pursuing the removal of the ED, stating that he has worked towards this goal “for years.” He further mentioned that he was aware that having a Republican president in office would be necessary to accomplish this, as he shared with the Argus Leader on Tuesday.
During the first term of former President Donald Trump, Rounds observed a shift towards the elimination of many one-size-fits-all regulations in the ED. He noted that it seemed like they were working towards this goal.
Rounds has introduced the bill in line with Trump’s pledge to abolish the ED. He acknowledges the widespread desire to eliminate the ED and believes that his bill could pave the way for transferring its important functions to other areas. By doing so, he hopes to make it easier to eventually eliminate the ED.
According to widespread reports, it has been stated that the elimination of a federal government department like the ED would require 60 votes in the Senate. However, Senator Rounds is confident that he can pass the bill with just 50 votes through reconciliation. Reconciliation is a legislative process that allows Congress to enact tax and spending legislation with a simple majority, rather than the usual 60-vote supermajority.
A bill has been introduced by a Republican senator that aims to eliminate the US Department of Education. This move has sparked a lot of debate and discussion among lawmakers and education experts. The bill, if passed, would transfer the responsibilities and funding of the Department of Education to the states. Proponents of the bill argue that this would give states more control over their education systems and allow for more flexibility in addressing the needs of students. However, critics worry that eliminating the Department of Education could lead to a lack of oversight and accountability in education and potentially widen the achievement gap between students. The bill is still in the early stages and it remains to be seen whether it will gain enough support to become law.
According to Rounds, if there is evidence of cost savings in administrative overhead, it is possible to reallocate some of these funds to other areas. As a result, the Department of Education can be downsized. Although complete abolition may not be feasible, redistributing resources to other areas without imposing a one-size-fits-all approach can greatly diminish its impact.
Sen. John Thune, a fellow Republican from South Dakota and the Senate Majority Leader-Elect, expressed his support for his colleague’s bill during a Q&A session on Tuesday. Thune stated that Rounds’ proposed legislation deserves careful consideration.
“I strongly believe that it is essential for us to constantly explore ways in which we can transfer power, control, decision-making, and financial resources away from Washington and back into the hands of the people,” expressed Thune. “I am a firm advocate for decentralized and distributed power. I firmly believe that we can achieve superior outcomes and results when individuals who are intimately familiar with the concerns and interests of the people they represent are the ones making the decisions.”
Despite opposition from Democrats and Democrat-aligned Independents who are against abolishing the agency, they still have control over the Senate and the White House in this session. There is a possibility that the proposal could be reintroduced in the next term, but it would still need 60 votes to pass through the Senate.
To dismantle the ED in the upcoming term, Democrats who strongly oppose the idea would need to be convinced. Certain Republicans argue that it would be wiser to keep the ED intact, as it could potentially play a crucial role in implementing Trump’s policy agenda.
According to his plan, Trump aims to cut federal funding for schools that teach “critical race theory,” “gender ideology,” or any other content that he deems inappropriate for children.
He also aims to boost funding for schools that embrace a “Parental Bill of Rights” which guarantees full transparency in the curriculum and offers some form of universal school choice. Additionally, he proposes eliminating teacher tenure for grades K-12 and implementing merit-based pay. Another aspect of his plan is to have parents participate in the election of school principals and reduce the number of school administrators.
However, if funding decisions were to be based on district-level policy choices, it would necessitate federal oversight.
Senator Mike Rounds is confident that he can secure the necessary votes to abolish the Department of Education, according to a report from Sioux Falls Argus Leader.