U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds has introduced a bill to eliminate the U.S. Department of Education and return control to the states. The bill, S.5384, would redistribute the ED’s responsibilities to other departments. Critics, including the South Dakota Education Association, argue that the bill would have negative effects on South Dakota schools and students.
Rounds defended his bill, stating that it would keep local control in education and simplify the distribution of federal funding. He hopes to pass the bill through reconciliation with 50 votes, bypassing the need for a 60-vote supermajority. He believes that redistributing responsibilities to other departments could pave the way for the eventual elimination of the ED.
While some Republicans, including Sen. John Thune, support the bill’s consideration, Democrats and Democrat-aligned Independents still control the Senate and White House. If reintroduced next term, the bill would still require 60 votes to pass the Senate. Trump’s education policy agenda includes cutting federal funding for schools that teach certain ideologies and increasing funding for schools that adopt specific measures.
Overall, the bill to abolish the Department of Education faces opposition from critics who believe it would harm education in South Dakota. Rounds aims to streamline federal funding distribution and increase local control over education, while some argue that federal oversight is necessary to ensure equality and accountability in education.
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