Central South Dakota News

U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) has introduced the "Returning Education to Our States Act," aiming to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education and reallocate its programs across other federal departments. The Department, established in 1979, was initially tasked with data collection and advising schools on best practices. However, it has expanded significantly over the years, now operating with a budget 449% larger than at its inception.

Rounds argues that despite the Department spending $16,000 per student annually, standardized test scores have declined over the past decade. He claims this demonstrates the Department's ineffectiveness in enhancing education quality for American students. According to Rounds, funding from the Department is contingent upon states and educational institutions adopting uniform standards imposed by the federal body.

"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. He emphasized local control as being optimal for education decisions: "Local school boards and state Departments of Education know best what their students need, not unelected bureaucrats in Washington, D.C."

Rounds expressed enthusiasm about collaborating with President-elect Trump and Republican majorities in Congress to realize this vision. He described his legislation as a roadmap for eliminating the federal Department by reallocating its programs appropriately within other departments.

Despite criticisms of inefficiency, several significant programs currently reside within the Department of Education. Under Rounds' proposal, these would be transferred to various departments:

- **Department of Interior**: Programs such as Native American-Serving Institutions Programs and Impact Aid Programs.

- **Department of Treasury**: Includes William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program and Federal Pell Grant Program.

- **Department of Health and Human Services**: Covers Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and Special Education Grants.

- **Department of Labor**: Encompasses all Office of Career, Technical and Adult Education programs.

- **Department of State**: Fulbright-Hays Program.

The full text of the bill is available online.