Education and the Workforce Committee Moves to Streamline Department of Education

Lindsey Burke / May 13, 2011

Over the past few months, the House Education and the Workforce Committee has been conducting a series of hearings to examine the impact of the federal role in education on local schools. Presentations by school superintendents, education policy experts, and charter school operators painted a picture of the burden of federal involvement and regulation—resulting from approximately 150 programs operated by the Department of Education.

Chairman John Kline (R–MN) noted recently that:

Virtually every program has its own application process, separate or duplicative reporting requirements, and different eligibility criteria. It’s a complicated system levied on our schools, and dedicating the time and resources necessary to navigate this bureaucratic maze inevitably means time and resources spent outside the classroom.

A recently released Government Accountability Office (GAO) report found that billions of taxpayer dollars are being wasted on redundant programs. In fact, the report found 82 redundant teacher quality programs.

Schools must spend tremendous amounts of time and resources complying with the paperwork associated with these duplicative federal programs. According to Representative Duncan Hunter (R–CA), chairman of the Early Childhood, Elementary and Secondary Education Subcommittee: (more…)