The Department of Education…is it an all or none situation?

Richard Graves, MA American History - 03/21/2025

The U.S. Department of Education was established on October 17, 1979, when President Jimmy Carter signed the Department of Education Organization Act into law. It officially began operations on May 4, 1980 (U.S. Department of Education, n.d.).

PURPOSE OF ESTABLISHMENT:

• Improve National Education Standards: The Department aimed to address inconsistencies in education quality across states, ensuring all students had access to quality education (U.S. Department of Education, n.d.).

• Centralize Federal Education Programs: It sought to consolidate various education-related programs that were previously scattered across different agencies (U.S. Department of Education, n.d.).

• Ensure Equal Access to Education: A key goal was to promote equal opportunities for all students, particularly those in underserved communities (U.S. Department of Education, n.d.).

• Enhance Accountability: The Department was tasked with overseeing the effectiveness of federal education funding and programs (U.S. Department of Education, n.d.).

• Support Teachers and Schools: Providing funding, research, and resources to improve education systems nationwide was a fundamental objective (U.S. Department of Education, n.d.).

In the 1970s, there were growing concerns about declining educational performance and unequal access to quality education. This led to increased calls for federal oversight. President Carter, supported by teachers' unions and education advocates, proposed separating education from the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare to provide more focused leadership. However, this decision was controversial, with opponents arguing that education should remain a state and local responsibility rather than a federal one (West, 2025).

SUCCESSES & FAILURES

The U.S. Department of Education (ED) has had both achievements and setbacks since its creation.

Successes:

• Expanding Educational Access: ED has played a key role in enforcing federal civil rights laws, working to ensure that all students—regardless of race, gender, or disability—receive equal educational opportunities. These efforts have helped curb discriminatory practices in schools across the country (U.S. Department of Education, n.d.).

• Managing Federal Student Aid: By overseeing grants, loans, and work-study programs, ED has helped millions of students access higher education. In 2016 alone, the department was responsible for managing a $1.3 trillion student loan portfolio (U.S. Government Accountability Office, 2017).

• Supporting Students with Disabilities: Programs like the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) ensure that students with disabilities receive free, appropriate education tailored to their specific needs, helping them succeed academically and beyond (U.S. Department of Education, n.d.).

Failures:

• Achievement Gaps Persist: Despite efforts to improve equity in education, disparities in academic performance remain among different student groups, highlighting ongoing challenges in creating a truly level playing field (Pew Research Center, 2025).

• Bureaucratic Inefficiencies: Many critics argue that ED’s bureaucracy slows down decision-making and prevents swift responses to local education needs (West, 2025).

• Debates Over Federal Overreach: There has been ongoing controversy over the federal government’s role in education, with some arguing that ED’s policies interfere with state and local control (Pew Research Center, 2025).

There are some serious issues that our nation faces in this time. Education is one of them. Here are some troubling facts about the American education system as a whole that are significant issues. Educational performance, as measured by international and national assessments, presents a concerning picture for our country.

Mathematics:

In the 2022 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), which evaluates 15-year-olds worldwide, U.S. students ranked 28th out of 37 OECD countries in mathematics. Notably, 66% of U.S. students achieved at least Level 2 proficiency in math, slightly below the OECD average of 69% (OECD, 2022). The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) in 2024 revealed that 39% of fourth graders and 28% of eighth graders performed at or above the proficient level in math (National Center for Education Statistics [NCES], 2024).

Reading:

The 2024 NAEP results indicated that fewer than a third of students nationwide achieved proficiency in reading at both fourth and eighth grades. Alarmingly, approximately 40% of fourth graders scored below the basic level, marking the highest percentage since 2002 (National Assessment Governing Board [NAGB], 2024).

Science:

In the 2022 PISA assessment, U.S. students ranked 10th in science among the 81 participating school systems, reflecting a stable performance compared to previous years (Chalkbeat, 2023).

These findings underscore the challenges faced by the U.S. education system, particularly in mathematics and reading, while highlighting relative strengths in science, being 10th is simply not accepbtale for the leader of the free world. The Trump administration has targeted the Department of Education for cuts and possible dismantling, the Democrats have criticized these cuts that are being proposed and opposes dismantling.

Democratic leaders strongly oppose efforts to cut or dismantle the U.S. Department of Education, warning of severe consequences for students and schools. Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker criticized the move, saying Republicans are "taking a chainsaw to health care and education" (ABC7 Chicago, 2025). Congresswoman Lauren Underwood urged public opposition, while Attorney General Kwame Raoul called the order unconstitutional and harmful to students relying on federal programs (ABC7 Chicago, 2025). Nationally, the DNC warned that eliminating the department could threaten K-12 funding and student loan relief, with 75% of Democrats opposing the measure (Democratic National Committee, 2025). Democrats view the U.S. Department of Education as essential for ensuring equal opportunity, maintaining education standards, and advancing progressive policies. While some see this as federal overreach, Democrats argue it’s necessary to support disadvantaged students and keep the nation competitive.

Republicans support dismantling the U.S. Department of Education, arguing that state and local control would improve efficiency and responsiveness. President Trump’s executive order emphasizes reducing federal bureaucracy to enhance educational outcomes (The Times, 2025). House Republicans are drafting legislation to fully abolish the department, aligning with their long-standing push for limited federal involvement in education (National Review, 2025). Republican state leaders back this move, believing local governance allows for more tailored and effective policies (Inside Higher Ed, 2024). Republicans see eliminating the U.S. Department of Education as a way to return control to states, limit federal overreach, and expand school choice. While critics warn this could deepen education gaps, Republicans argue decentralization encourages innovation, accountability, and stronger student performance.

The Democrats, utilize the logical fallacy Argumentum ad Passiones, trying to stoke fears in their base. Whereas the Republicans, are utilizing the logical fallacy Tertium non Datur, this also to manipulate their base with an all or none proposition. Looking at the education problem that we are having as a nation, clearly there should be a national imperative for our students to be the best in the world. In fact, with the amount of money we spend per student there is no reason why we shouldn't be.

THE COST VS THE RESULTS:

The U.S. spends an average of $16,280 per public school student (NCES, 2024), with the Census Bureau reporting $15,633 for 2022, an 8.9% increase from the previous year (U.S. Census Bureau, 2024). Spending varies widely by state—Idaho invests $11,686 per student, while New York leads at $32,184 (NCES, 2024). These disparities reflect differences in local funding, enrollment, and inflation. The U.S. ranks fifth among OECD nations in K-12 education spending, investing $15,500 per student, 38% above the OECD average (NCES, 2024). At the postsecondary level, the U.S. spends $37,400 per student, more than double the OECD average, ranking second globally behind Luxembourg (NCES, 2024).

The U.S. spends heavily on education, yet student outcomes remain inconsistent across states. Like national defense, education should be seen as a national priority, ensuring American students can compete globally. Advocates of high-skilled immigration argue that the U.S. needs talent from abroad, but we should focus on developing our own students into the world’s best (Hanushek & Woessmann, 2020).

BALANCE BETWEEN LOCAL AND FEDERAL INTERSTS

Dr. Deil S. Wright’s Overlapping-Authority Model illustrates how federal, state, and local governments are deeply interconnected within the American political system (Wright, 1988, p. 57). As such, a cooperative federalism approach based the overlapping-authority model seems essential for American students to benefit the most. The Department of Education can be used to play a crucial role in setting nationwide academic standards, while states should have the flexibility to exceed them. Core competencies in reading, math, and science must be a shared priority, regardless of political divides (Mehta, 2015). Rather than eliminating federal oversight, we should ensure that funding is effectively allocated and that accountability measures prevent government waste. Strengthening both federal and state collaboration is key to investing in students, and securing the future of American excellence (Reich, 2018).

Works Cited:

ABC7 Chicago. (2025, March 20). Department of Education: Illinois Democrats condemn President Donald Trump’s executive order to dismantle agency. https://abc7chicago.com/post/department-education-illinois-democrats-condemn-president-donald-trumps-executive-order-dismantle/16058847Links

Chalkbeat. (2023, December 5). Math scores fall but United States rises in rankings on PISA test. Chalkbeat. https://www.chalkbeat.org/2023/12/05/math-scores-fall-but-united-states-rises-in-rankings-on-pisa-testLinks

Democratic National Committee. (2025, March 20). Trump abolishes the Department of Education, wreaking havoc on 50 million public school students. https://democrats.org/news/%F0%9F%9A%A8-trump-abolishes-the-department-of-education-wreaking-havoc-on-50-million-public-school-studentsLinks

Hanushek, E. A., & Woessmann, L. (2020). The knowledge capital of nations: Education and the economics of growth. MIT Press.

Inside Higher Ed. (2024, November 25). Republican states back Trump plan to abolish Education Dept. https://www.insidehighered.com/news/government/state-policy/2024/11/25/republican-states-back-trump-plan-abolish-education-deptLinks

Mehta, J. (2015). The allure of order: High hopes, dashed expectations, and the troubled quest to remake American schooling. Oxford University Press.

National Assessment Governing Board (NAGB). (2024). Nation’s report card: Decline in reading progress in math. https://www.nagb.gov/news-and-events/news-releases/2025/nations-report-card-decline-in-reading-progress-in-math.htmlLinks

National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). (2024). The Nation’s Report Card: Mathematics 2024. https://www.nationsreportcard.gov/reports/mathematics/2024/g4_8/Links

National Center for Education Statistics. (2024). Public school expenditure per pupil. U.S. Department of Education. https://nces.ed.gov/programs/coe/indicator/cmb/public-school-expenditure

National Review. (2025, March 20). Republicans prepare legislation to fully abolish Education Department. https://www.nationalreview.com/news/republicans-prepare-legislation-to-fully-abolish-education-departmentLinks

Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). (2022). PISA 2022 results: United States country profile. OECD Education GPS. https://gpseducation.oecd.org/CountryProfile?primaryCountry=USA&topic=PI&treshold=10Links

Pew Research Center. (2025). What the data says about the U.S. Department of Education. https://www.pewresearch.org

Reich, R. (2018). Saving capitalism: For the many, not the few. Vintage.

The Times. (2025, March 20). White House prepares to axe Department of Education. https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/white-house-prepares-to-axe-department-of-education-hb69nr6r6Links

U.S. Census Bureau. (2024). Public school spending in the United States. https://www.census.gov/library/stories/2024/04/public-school-spending.htmlLinks

U.S. Department of Education. (n.d.). An overview of the U.S. Department of Education. https://www.ed.gov

U.S. Government Accountability Office. (2017). Department of Education: Resource and achievement trends. https://www.gao.gov

West, M. (2025). Unpacking the U.S. Department of Education: What does it actually do? Harvard Graduate School of Education. https://www.gse.harvard.edu

Wright, D. S. (1988). Understanding intergovernmental relations (3rd ed.). Pacific Grove, CA: Brooks/Cole.