Calls to eliminate the Education Department could jeopardize the future of students, especially the most vulnerable among them
Washington: The idea of getting rid of the U.S. Department of Education is a hot topic, especially after Trump’s election. Some folks think it’s a good idea, but that’s just not the case.
Let’s be real: getting rid of the Education Department would be a huge mistake. We need a strong federal presence to help our schools, especially for kids who need it the most, like Black and brown students.
This isn’t a new issue. Back in the 70s, people were already talking about the problems in our education system. The famous report, “A Nation at Risk,” came out in 1983 and highlighted how serious the situation was. It got everyone, from liberals to conservatives, to pay attention.
But for years, there’s been pushback against a strong federal role in education. The Every Student Succeeds Act in 2016 rolled back some important standards, which didn’t help anyone.
Meanwhile, states have been dropping the ball on providing a decent education for all kids. They’ve been trying to cover up their failures instead of fixing them.
It’s frustrating because many states have lowered their academic standards just to make themselves look better. The National Assessment of Educational Progress shows that students are doing worse than what state tests suggest. In Maryland, for example, the scores are about 15-20 points lower on the national test.
Some states are trying harder than others, and Maryland’s Blueprint for the Future is a step in the right direction. But even that has its issues. We really need a solid national education policy led by the Education Department.
So, what’s stopping us? Republicans seem set on getting rid of the Education Department, while Democrats are not much better. They want to keep it but don’t seem eager to shake things up.
In reality, a good national education policy wouldn’t take away local control. It would just set some basic standards and ensure funding is fair across states.
States would still have the freedom to decide how to spend the money and run their schools. This isn’t as impossible as it sounds. There’s been bipartisan support for better national standards in the past.
We need to rethink the federal role in education now more than ever. The future of our kids is at stake, and we can’t afford to wait any longer.
