States' Education Reclamation Act of 2023 This bill abolishes the Department of Education (ED) and repeals any program for which it has administrative responsibility. The Department of the Treasury shall provide grants to states, for FY2023-FY2031, for elementary, secondary, and postsecondary education purposes permitted by state law. The level of funding is set at the amount provided to states for federal elementary and secondary education programs and the amount provided for federal postsecondary education programs, respectively, for FY2023, minus the funding provided for education programs that the bill transfers to other federal agencies. States must contract for an annual audit of their expenditures or transfers of grant funds. Program administrative responsibility and delegation of authority are transferred as follows: ED's job training programs to the Department of Labor, each special education grant program under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), ED's Indian education programs to the Department of the Interior, each Impact Aid program under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to the Department of Defense, the Federal Pell Grant program and each federal student loan program to Treasury, and programs under the jurisdiction of the Institute of Education Sciences or the D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program to HHS.
If enacted, the bill will result in significant changes to how elementary and secondary as well as postsecondary education is funded and administered. Beginning in fiscal year 2023 and extending through fiscal year 2031, the Department of the Treasury will distribute grants directly to states, equal to the current federal funding levels. States are mandated to use these funds for education-related purposes in compliance with their own state laws. This approach aims to empower states by providing greater financial autonomy but raises concerns about disparities in educational quality between states over time.
House Bill 202, known as the 'States' Education Reclamation Act of 2023', proposes the complete abolition of the Department of Education (ED) and the repeal of all associated programs. The bill transitions the responsibility for educational policy from a federal department to each state, asserting that local governance by parents, teachers, and communities will lead to improved educational outcomes. It posits that the centralized management by the ED has stifled innovation and fostered an overly bureaucratic educational environment that has failed to enhance student performance over the years.
The proposal has sparked significant debate regarding its implications for the integrity of educational standards and equity across the nation. Proponents argue for the necessity of reducing federal oversight, claiming that local control will lead to better tailored educational strategies. Critics, however, contend that the abolition of the ED may lead to decreased access to resources and funding inequities, especially in underfunded states. There are concerns that this bill may lead to a fragmented educational system that lacks the oversight necessary to ensure compliance with civil rights protections and quality education for all students.