Jan. 12, 2025
By Sena Fidan
Editor
Since its establishment in 1979, the U.S. Department of Education has been both a pillar of federal oversight and a source of political controversy. Now, its existence is at stake following the release of a seven-page bill titled the Returning Education to Our States Act.
Republican Sen. Mike Rounds of South Dakota introduced the bill on Nov. 21, 2024. If signed into law, it would abolish the department and end all programs for which it has administrative responsibility, except those transferred to other federal agencies.
The bill aligns with president-elect Donald Trump’s campaign pledge to abolish the department. In a video posted on his website in September 2023, Trump accused the department of “indoctrinating young people with inappropriate racial, sexual and political material.”
History teacher Mr. Tessalone said some politicians feel torn about whether to support the bill.
“There are politicians out there who… might not like the Department of Education, but… come from states and districts where they get a lot of federal dollars,” Tessalone said. “They could be losing out on millions of dollars for their schools.”
“The federal government’s role in education has affected me personally as a student by shaping the curriculum standards, funding programs like [Advanced Placement] classes and ensuring equity through laws like Title IX, which supports gender equality and creates opportunities in areas like sports and academics.”
If passed, the bill could especially impact low-income students and students with disabilities at the K-12 and college levels.
“[Regarding] student loans, [the federal government] would have to take a very close look at how they would continue enforcing those policies,” Tessalone said.
Sophomore Lila Pearce-Jaryno said she is concerned the bill gives states too much power.
“We’ve seen before what [giving] power to each individual state can do, how it can cause so many problems,” said Pearce-Jaryno, referring to the Supreme Court’s 2022 decision to overturn the 1973 ruling in Roe v. Wade, which established federal protections for abortion.
Pearce-Jaryno said she also worries that eliminating the department would make it easier for Trump to follow through on his campaign promise to reverse protections for transgender students.
“Making sure that schools aren’t segregated for any reason [and] making sure that there’s disability access [should] be a national requirement,” Pearce-Jaryno said.
Senior Ava Krzykalski said Americans should not underestimate the department’s impacts.
“The federal government’s role in education has affected me personally as a student by shaping the curriculum standards, funding programs like [Advanced Placement] classes and ensuring equity through laws like Title IX, which supports gender equality and creates opportunities in areas like sports and academics,” Krzykalski said.
She said eliminating the department could have mixed results.
“Giving states more control over education could allow for tailored solutions and local accountability,” Krzykalski said. “But it risks creating disparities in funding and quality without the federal government ensuring equitable access and national standards.”
