Membership & Awards Lunch: The Future of the U.S. Department of Education: Reform, Reinvention, or Retrenchment? *RSVP required

Session Submission Type: Special Event

Abstract

In an era of political polarization, educational inequality, and growing public scrutiny of federal authority, the role of the U.S. Department of Education faces renewed debate. In the first 6 months of his second term, President Trump reduced the size of the Department by half and withheld the distribution of billions of education dollars to states. These actions represent a substantial shift in education policy and funding in the U.S. This session convenes leading education policy experts to examine the fundamental question: What should the federal role in education be over the next decade?
Panelists will explore competing visions for the Department—from expanding federal leadership on equity, student debt, and accountability, to decentralizing control and returning more authority to states and localities. Should ED lead on issues like curriculum, civil rights enforcement, and higher education financing? Or should its scope be narrowed in favor of local innovation? The session will surface key tradeoffs in federal education policy and provide a platform to assess how research and political feasibility can shape the future of the Department.

Policy Area

• Special and Business Events

Moderator

• Erdal Tekin, American University

Speakers

• Amy Ellen Schwartz, University of Delaware

• Michael Alan Shires