Sen. Mike Rounds introduced a bill, called the “Returning Education to Our States Act,” that aims to abolish the U.S. Department of Education. The bill, S.5384, has faced criticism from education associations and Democratic Party members in South Dakota. However, Rounds believes his bill would provide more local control over education while ensuring federal funding reach the state without unnecessary regulations.
The bill proposes to distribute the Department of Education’s responsibilities to other departments, such as the Department of State, Department of the Interior, Department of the Treasury, Department of Health and Human Services, and Department of Labor. Rounds hopes to utilize block grants to streamline funding distribution back to the states.
While previous attempts to eliminate the Department of Education have been made, Rounds is optimistic about the bill’s potential success. He believes the bill could pass with only 50 votes through reconciliation. This strategy aims to reduce administrative overhead costs and redistribute responsibilities to other areas, ultimately minimizing the impact of the Department of Education.
While Rounds has the support of some Republican colleagues, opposition from Democrats and Independents remains strong. The bill’s fate may depend on the outcome of future elections and whether it can garner enough bipartisan support to pass in the Senate.
Overall, Sen. Rounds’ bill seeks to decentralize the education system and provide more flexibility to states and local districts while streamlining federal funding distribution and reducing bureaucratic red tape.
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