Rounds reintroduces bill to eEliminate the US Department of Education

April 9, 2025:

South Dakota U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) has reintroduced (April 9, 2025) the Returning Education to Our States Act, which would eliminate the U.S. Department of Education and redistribute all critical federal programs to other departments. Rounds first introduced this legislation in November 2024.

This legislation does not cut a dollar of education funding. Rather, funds will continue to flow directly to states in the form of block grants with other critical programs funded through the appropriate federal agencies. Eliminating the bureaucracy at the Department of Education will save approximately $2.2 billion per year in taxpayer dollars.

“We all know that teachers, parents, local school boards and state Departments of Education know what’s best for their students, not bureaucrats in Washington,” said Rounds. “The Department of Education was created to collect education data and advise state and local organizations on best practices. Since then, it has grown into an oversized bureaucracy that dictates one-size-fits-all policies, standards and practices for students across the nation. The Returning Education to Our States Act would preserve important programs and federal funding while eliminating the bureaucracy of the Department of Education. This has been a priority of mine for years, and it’s one that President Trump shares. I’m looking forward to working with the President, Secretary McMahon and the rest of the administration to get this legislation across the finish line and return education decisions to the state and local levels where they belong.”

This legislation is cosponsored by Senators Jim Banks (R-Ind.) and Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.).

BACKGROUND:

The Department of Education (Department) was created in 1979 with the goal of collecting data and advising schools across the U.S. on best practices. In the 45 years since then, it has grown into an oversized bureaucracy with a budget that’s 449 percent larger than it was at its founding. Despite the Department spending $16,000 per student per year, standardized test scores have been dropping over the past ten years, further displaying the Department’s ineffectiveness on the quality of education for American students. Any grants or funding from the Department are only given to states and educational institutions in exchange for adopting the one-size-fits-all standards put forth by the Department.

Despite its inefficiencies, there are several important programs housed within the Department. The funding formulas for the below programs would not be changed. Rounds’ legislation would redirect these to the Departments of Interior, Treasury, Health and Human Services, Labor, Defense, Justice and State:

Department of the Interior

Indian Education Formula Grants and National Activities
Native American and Alaska Native Children in School Program
Special Programs for Indian Children

Department of the Treasury

William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program
Federal Family Education Loan Program
Federal Perkins Loan Program
Federal Pell Grant Program
Health Education Assistance Loan Program
Education Sciences Reform Act
Education Technical Assistance Act
National Assessment of Educational Progress Authorization Act

Department of Health and Human Services

Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
Education of the Blind
Helen Keller Center for Deaf/Blind Youth and Adults
Special Education Grants
Scholarships for Opportunity and Results Act
Special Olympics Sport and Empowerment
McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act

Department of Labor

All Office of Career, Technical and Adult Education programs
Randolph Sheppard Vending Facility Program
Vocational Rehabilitation State Grants
American Indian Vocational Rehabilitation Services Program
Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act
Adult Education and Family Literacy Act
Education of the Deaf Act
Randolph-Sheppard Act
Helen Keller National Center Act

Department of Defense

Impact Aid Programs

Department of Justice

Civil Rights Enforcement

Department of State

Fulbright-Hays Program

In addition, Rounds’ legislation would alleviate the following compliance requirements:

Eliminate Federal Accountability Mandates: Schools would no longer be required to administer standardized assessments or track performance for identifying struggling schools (CSI and TSI), allowing for more flexibility in assessment and school improvement strategies.
Reduce Funding Compliance Burdens: Schools would no longer have to comply with complex Title I funding regulations, maintenance of effort standards or provide equitable services for private school students. This would simplify financial management.
Relax Teacher Qualification Requirements: Schools would have more autonomy to set teacher certification standards and professional development plans, reducing federal oversight and allowing for tailored approaches to educator qualifications.

Click HERE for full bill text.

NOVEMBER 22, 2024:

State Democratic Party Executive Director Dan Ahlers released (Nov. 22, 2024) the following statement after South Dakota U.S. Senator Mike Rounds proposed legislation to eliminate the US Department of Education.:

“Senator Rounds’ bill to abolish the Department of Education is reckless and jeopardizes the educational opportunities for all of South Dakota’s children,” said Ahlers. “Shifting responsibilities to another federal department will still require people to implement and manage these programs. The cost to operate these programs does not go away. Creating block grants for states to operate the post-secondary programs will again only shift the costs to state government.

South Dakota Republican leadership has a long history of neglect and underfunding of our public schools and universities. Senator Rounds himself spent much of his time as governor demonizing public schools and educators. He also closed the SD School for the Deaf, limiting access to resources and opportunities for students with disabilities. South Dakota ranks 44th in investment per student and 49th in teacher pay. The cost to attend our public universities is double compared to our neighboring state of Wyoming and even more than the state of California. Clearly our state government does not value public education, so why would we place the responsibility of running essential federal programs in their hands.

Rounds’ bill will hit our rural communities and schools the most where we already struggle to recruit teachers and provide educational services to critical need students. In my time as a state legislator, I have known many families who have left South Dakota in order to get the special education services they needed for their child. I’ve listened to rural school administrators share their funding challenges, difficulty hiring staff and maintaining an aging facility. As a substitute teacher, I’ve seen first hand the struggles that schools deal with to recruit teachers, support staff and other workers. I have also seen how hard these people work and how much they care for their students.

It’s time for people like Senator Rounds to stop the pandering and grand standing. Stop making these uniformed and unsubstantiated comments about our schools, teachers and support staff. For once, maybe listen to our educators and their needs. It’s a tough and often thankless job that goes beyond the hours of a typical day. But they do it because they want to make a difference. Maybe our leaders could do a little more to support them. Maybe our leaders (like Senator Rounds) could spend a little more time in our schools, so you actually understand what is going on and the challenges these people face every day.”

NOVEMBER 21, 2024:

South Dakota U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) introduced (Nov. 21, 2024) the “Returning Education to Our States Act” which would eliminate the U.S. Department of Education and redistribute all critical federal programs under other departments.

The Department was created in 1979 with the goal of collecting data and advising schools across the U.S. on best practices. In the 45 years since then, it has grown into an oversized bureaucracy with a budget that’s 449% larger than it was at its founding. Despite the Department spending $16,000 per student per year, standardized test scores have been dropping over the past ten years, further displaying the Department’s ineffectiveness on the quality of education for American students. Any grants or funding from the Department are only given to states and educational institutions in exchange for adopting the one-size-fits-all standards put forth by the Department.

“The federal Department of Education has never educated a single student, and it’s long past time to end this bureaucratic Department that causes more harm than good,” said Rounds. “We all know local control is best when it comes to education. Everyone raised in South Dakota can think of a teacher who played a big part in their educational journey. Local school boards and state Departments of Education know best what their students need, not unelected bureaucrats in Washington, D.C.

“For years, I’ve worked toward removing the federal Department of Education. I’m pleased that President-elect Trump shares this vision, and I’m excited to work with him and Republican majorities in the Senate and House to make this a reality. This legislation is a roadmap to eliminating the federal Department of Education by practically rehoming these federal programs in the departments where they belong, which will be critical as we move into next year.”

Despite its inefficiencies, there are several important programs housed within the Department. Rounds’ legislation would redirect these to Departments of Interior, Treasury, Health and Human Services, Labor and State: