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Investing.com -- U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order Thursday aimed at dissolving the U.S. Department of Education, citing a lack of measurable improvement in student achievement despite significant increases in spending. Trump’s administration is advocating for a return of educational control to individual states, arguing that they are better suited to address the unique needs of their populations.
In his statement, President Trump highlighted the absence of progress in educational outcomes, noting that despite a 245% increase in per-pupil spending since the department’s inception in 1979, math and reading scores for 13-year-olds are at their lowest in decades. He pointed out that a majority of fourth and eighth graders are not proficient in math and reading, with standardized test scores remaining flat over the years.
President Trump emphasized the unsatisfactory ranking of U.S. students in math, where they stand at 28th out of 37 OECD member countries. He expressed the belief that the current federal system, which he described as bloated and regulatory, is failing American students.
The executive order represents a significant shift in federal education policy, aiming to eliminate the department that has been responsible for national education programs and enforcing federal educational laws. Trump’s plan advocates for states to have the authority to enhance educational freedom and opportunities for families.
Trump said giving education back to the states is the commonsense thing to do.
"We are going to be returning education very simply back to the states where it belongs -- It’s a commonsense thing to do and it’s going to work," Trump said.
The President also praised teachers, saying they will be taken care of.
"Teachers, to me, are among the most important people in this country — and we’re going to take care of our teachers," he said.
Trump said that the Department of Education’s useful functions, such as Pell Grants, Title 1 funding, and resources for children with disabilities, will be fully preserved and moved to other agencies and departments.