Restoring Quality Education in America
Parents and educators are aware of the dismal outcomes under the direction of our current public education system. When compared with other developed countries, United States graduates are declining in workforce and college readiness and mathematics and reading scores are down in public schools, despite per-pupil spending having increased by more than 245% since the 1970s.
The Department of Education has spent over $3 trillion without improving student achievement as measured by standardized National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) scores, proving that more spending does not mean better education.
- 13-year-olds’ mathematics scores are the lowest they have been in decades.
- 13-year-olds’ reading scores are the lowest since testing began over 30 years ago.
- Low-performing students are falling further behind.
- In 2023, 13 Baltimore, Maryland, high schools had zero students who tested proficient in mathematics.
Who’s to blame? President Trump believes that union-driven education bureaucrats have wasted taxpayer dollars on mandated programs like social justice advocacy, DEI, and other programs that put woke ideology before merit and basic learning strategies. It’s no wonder they want parents to be uninformed and unable to control their children’s health and education. Thanks to parents being stuck at home during the COVID pandemic, they became aware of rogue educators who weaved their ideology into the curriculum shaping impressionable minds into their own image and thoughts. It was shocking, and parents are now fighting back.
What can be done? The problems seemed insurmountable until President Trump was elected. Now, across the nation, parents are running for school boards and helping to elect trustees who put kids first while fighting against lowered standards. Despite continued union influence, teachers are starting to feel more comfortable “coming out” as opponents of the mandates to redirect resources to ideological initiatives, which diverts staff time and attention away from schools’ primary role of teaching. These educators are looking forward to the possibility of a merit-based system of compensation and promotions.
As promised, President Trump issued the “Improving Education Outcomes by Empowering Parents, States, and Communities” Executive Order on March 20, 2025. Here is an excerpt:
“Taxpayers spent around $200 billion at the Federal level on schools during the COVID-19 pandemic, on top of the more than $60 billion they spend annually on Federal school funding. This money is largely distributed by one of the newest Cabinet agencies, the Department of Education, which has existed for less than one fifth of our Nation’s history. The Congress created the Department of Education in 1979 at the urging of President Jimmy Carter, who received a first-ever Presidential endorsement from the country’s largest teachers’ union shortly after pledging to the union his support for a separate Department of Education. Since then, the Department of Education has entrenched the education bureaucracy and sought to convince America that Federal control over education is beneficial. While the Department of Education does not educate anyone, it maintains a public relations office that includes over 80 staffers at a cost of more than $10 million per year.
Closing the Department of Education would provide children and their families the opportunity to escape a system that is failing them. Today, American reading and math scores are near historical lows. This year’s National Assessment of Educational Progress showed that 70 percent of 8th graders were below proficient in reading, and 72 percent were below proficient in math. The Federal education bureaucracy is not working.”
President Trump spoke of a dramatic rethinking of schools: “I want every parent in America to be empowered to send their child to public, private, charter, or faith-based school of their choice. The time for universal school choice has come. As we return education to the states, I will use every power I have to give parents this right.” Read more facts about the President’s plans.
President Trump appointed Education Secretary Linda McMahon, who most recently served as Chair of the Board at the America First Policy Institute. She was President Trump’s Administrator of the Small Business Administration in his first term where she championed women entrepreneurs and military veterans. Prior to serving in the Administration, McMahon was the President and later CEO of World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. The Secretary knew coming in that she was authorized to “put herself out of a job” by dismantling the Education Department bureaucracy and returning control of education to the states while empowering families.
View the President’s ceremony where he signed the Executive Order, surrounded by hopeful students and parents.
The Resistance. The road to reform will not be without a few bumps as advocacy groups have sued the Administration to block the dismantling of the Education Department. In a March 25 Epoch Times article, it was reported that “The lawsuit alleged that President Donald Trump’s executive order to dismantle the Education Department exceeds his constitutional authority and violates the federal Administrative Procedure Act.
The groups asked the court to block the department’s closure, arguing that only Congress, not the president, has the authority to dismantle it since the department was created by Congress.”
“Another lawsuit was filed on Monday (March 24) by Democracy Forward on behalf of teachers, school districts, and unions, challenging the Trump administration’s efforts to shut down the department. Similarly, they argued that Trump lacked congressional approval to take such actions.
Plaintiffs in that complaint include the American Federation of Teachers, the American Association of University Professors, the Service Employees International Union, and two Massachusetts public school districts.”
The pushback from unions and bureaucrats has been aggressive as they have tried to convince the public that Republicans don’t care about public education or kids. Of course, nothing could be further from the truth. Secretary McMahon has announced that parents do not need to be concerned about programs that support the health and welfare of students as those programs will be transferred to the Health and Human Services agency. The Small Business Administration will take over Student Loans, and other essential programs are expected to be relocated as well. Meanwhile, Representative Massie (R-KY) has introduced H.R. 899 to terminate the Department of Education, which might be required if the legal challenges persist.
Returning the governing of education to the states will have different results in those that are “blue” vs. “red”. Once parents in blue states like California realize that their state leaders may be holding back their students from succeeding, we can expect a better turnout in mid-term elections when Governors and Legislators are running for office. SacCountyGOP will provide information on our endorsed “kids-first” candidates once the 2026 Election kicks off. Stay tuned!
This article is the second in a series provided by SacCountyGOP that will highlight the work of President Trump and his Administration. Check back on this website as we share information on his work to bring peace in the world, protect personal liberties, secure our borders and communities, improve our economy and education system, protect women’s sports, and so much more. America is Back!