CONGRESS FOR VOTERS

RepublicanBill · S. 1402· Senate(119-S-1402)

Returning Education to Our States Act

Rep. Rounds
Age: 72 years
South Dakota
Introduced
4/9/2025
Last activity
4/9/2025 — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Sponsored by
Mike Rounds
Cosponsors
Republican - 2Democrat - 0
Education
  1. Introduced
  2. In Committee

What this bill would do

The "Returning Education to Our States Act" proposes to abolish the Department of Education effective one year after enactment. This bill repeals the Department of Education Organization Act and the General Education Provisions Act, with specific exceptions for FERPA. Various educational functions and programs are redistributed to other federal agencies, such as the Departments of the Interior, Defense, Health and Human Services, Treasury, Labor, and State. Elementary and secondary education funding would be handled through block grants managed by the Secretary of Health and Human Services. Higher education and postsecondary assistance functions would move to the Department of the Treasury. Finally, the bill transfers civil rights enforcement responsibilities to the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice.

Yes

  • Does this leave more decisions to the states?+8

    The bill moves educational control and funding oversight from the federal level back to the states.

  • Does this make it easier to use public money at a school other than the local one?+3

    By shifting to block grants, states gain more autonomy in how they fund educational priorities.

  • Does this put more money into public schools?+2

    The bill transitions K-12 funding to state block grants which may allow more local flexibility.

The opposite

  • Does this give the federal government more power?-5

    The bill significantly reduces the federal government's role by abolishing a major department.