House Education and the Workforce Committee Holds Education Oversight Hearing

On Wednesday, the House Committee on Education and the Workforce held a hearing, American Education in Crisis. Chairwoman Virginia Foxx (R-NC) opened the hearing by remarking that “From elementary school to law school, the state of this nation’s education system is deeply troubling at every level.” She called on Congress to “protect parental rights” and advocated for the creation of innovative forms of education that disrupt the modern education system. Ranking Member Bobby Scott (D-VA) highlighted an agenda that will “help modernize healthy school buildings so students can learn safely, eliminate inequities in education, and provide families with a legal remedy for students to address disparities in education.” Both opening statements called out the opposite side of the aisle for perpetuating problems within the education system.

During a question and answer session, several common questions for discussion emerged, including the pressing challenge of teacher shortages and oversight and accountability of stimulus funds. Freshman Representative Erin Houchin (R-IN) raised prioritizing the needs of children with disabilities, and shared that she has a child with dyslexia. As an information gathering session, members summarized commonalities such as the concern about promoting ideology over academic instruction, the need for oversight and accountability of the emergency federal funding, and that too many American classrooms need support in mental health and discipline. However the cause and solution of those common observations vary widely.

View the House hearing and access written testimony here.