In light of major changes emanating from Washington, let’s discuss the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), its origins, and what the future holds as decision-makers push for more state-level control over education.
The “Department of Education” has had a long history, over the course of which it has undergone several changes in size, status, and function. It was first signed into law by President Andrew Johnson in 1867, intended primarily as a data collection body. It was only called a department for a year, however, before it was downgraded to an office due to concerns that it would (according to its own website) “exercise too much control over local schools,” and ingested by various other departments over time. Perhaps our forefathers knew something about the risks of excessive centralized authority.
DOE was absorbed by the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare (HEW) in 1953, under which its role remained relatively small until President LBJ’s “Great Society” program launched in the 1960s. In 1979, Congress extracted the office from HEW under President Carter’s direction and created the stand-alone Department of Education as we know it today.
DOE’s role then shifted from being a primarily research-based institution to a federal funding agency. This, not coincidentally, happened while education funding became a priority because of the Cold War. At the time, there was a push to revive American education as the U.S. and Russia vied for victory in space. Once that door was opened, it couldn’t be closed. From there, federal funding became a central necessity for education across every state.
Why has the right been seeking to downsize or dismantle DOE for so long? The long and short of it is that the power vested in DOE allows the federal government to encroach on state and local authority. It has also perpetuated wasteful spending by pumping money into a failing system that is not being spent to fix it or address its core problems.
What got us here? Well, you may know that since the department was created in 1979, it has been a target of Republicans for the above reasons. Since Reagan, who assumed office only a year after DOE was created, Republican presidents have promised and failed (or neglected) to dismantle it. Up until President Trump signed the EO on March 20, most people expected that trend to continue.
But, if Linda McMahon, the Secretary of Education herself, explains that her own department is not necessary, then politics aside, maybe DOE critics are onto something. If its core functions can be carried out in a cheaper and more responsible way, then there is no time like the present to reevaluate how government money is being spent. It’s true, DOE has been a political tool for decades, but the central issue all this time has been student achievement and outcomes. Is DOE as we know it really the most effective way to further these goals?
It should come as no surprise, then, that President Trump is following through on his campaign promise to shutter the agency—or at least shrink it as much as possible via Executive Order.
So what now? Well, the EO, Improving Education Outcomes by Empowering Parents, States, and Communities, calls for DOE’s main functions to be returned to the states. It gives the Secretary of Education authority to take all legal steps to facilitate the closure of DOE and return power to the states where possible (without interrupting delivery of services, programs, and benefits that Americans rely on). It also prioritizes accountability, calling for rigorous scrutiny of federal funds and ensuring their compliance with federal law.
Since it’s been made an inherently political issue, it is no shock that the backlash has been swift and effective. It might benefit us all, however, to take a step back and focus on what comes next. No, President Trump cannot dismantle DOE in its entirety. He will need an act of Congress to carry that out. And, no, reallocating federal funds will not harm rural communities. This Education Roundtable Podcast offers a fantastic explanation of where that money will go, and what it will be used for.
If DOE is dismantled, it will be up to states (actually, it always has been anyway) to deliver the quality education and services that their students deserve, this time without federal overreach.
If you would like to learn more, or if you have questions you would like answered about DOE, register for our webinar with Jonathan Vogel happening on April 11 at noon!