House Education Committee Advances Bills to Move Education Programs Out of ED
On Wednesday, the House Education and the Workforce Committee marked up a 10-bill "Less Bureaucracy, Better Education" bill package that would formally transfer scores of education programs from the U.S. Department of Education (ED) to other agencies. The bills would permanently move certain K-12 programs, teacher preparation programs, and more to the Department of Labor, while transferring other programs to the Departments of State, Health and Human Services, Interior, and Treasury. Notably, there was no bill to move the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services. In his opening remarks in support of the legislative package, Chairman Tim Walberg (R-MI) stated, "Today we are considering 10 bills that mark the first step toward ending the Department of Education's reign over our nation's education system."
Ranking Member Bobby Scott (D-VA), who opposes the bills and the effort to close ED, entered a letter of opposition into the hearing record signed by 93 education, disability, and civil rights organizations, including CEC. Debate on each of the bills fell along party lines: Republicans argued that ED has not improved educational outcomes and must be shut down, and that the bills would reduce bureaucracy and return education to the states. Democrats countered that there are many factors outside of ED's control that contribute to declining educational outcomes, including screens, mental health, and residual impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic; that spreading education programs across agencies would increase bureaucracy for State departments of education; and that there is no evidence the bills would lead to better outcomes.
One member, Rep. Kevin Kiley (I-CA), strayed from party lines during the hearing by opposing the measure to move K-12 education programs to the Labor Department. "I agree that we need to reform the Department of Education, but we need to do it in a way… to ensure that every child has access to a great education at a time when there are still achievement gaps across the country." Ultimately, all bills passed with only Republican support. The next step for the bill package is unclear, and it would face an uphill battle in the Senate.