Since its inception, which was simply a quid pro quo between then-Pres. Jimmy Carter and a teachers union, the Department of Education has only prioritized federal overreach and ideological agendas over basic education. This has led to declining literacy rates and divisive curricula. Returning control to states and reallocating functions to existing agencies would improve efficiency and accountability.
The Department of Education is vital for equal access to education and the nation's democracy. It ensures funding for low-income schools, enforces anti-discrimination laws, supports students with disabilities, and distributes billions of dollars in grants and loans. Besides wasting time, expertise, and funding that is already in place, dismantling it risks deepening inequities, worsening teacher shortages, and abandoning federal accountability crucial for student success.