• Education is a state, local and family issue, but Congress is often involved in education policy.
• In making education policy, Congress ought to use a framework that increases access to information, keeps the parents in mind, and expands flexibility in funding.

This week the United States Supreme Court rejected the Biden administration’s request to continue its newest student loan relief program as the litigation over the program carries on.

America’s infatuation with turning to the federal government to solve education problems needs to be addressed, something I’ve written about in the past.

Yet, in our current public policy landscape, we have to deal with the realities that the federal government does get involved in education policy in significant ways. Laws passed by Congress, and the choices used to administer programs, impact real people’s lives.

Congress, in particular, has the opportunity to reduce its interference in K-12 education by changing the way it approaches education issues already on its desk. Here is a framework that members of Congress can use to push K-12 education policy back to state, local and familial levels.

Increase access to information

If the federal government has any responsibility in education, it’s to offer data and increase transparency. For instance, to address the needs arising from the COVID-19 pandemic, Congress authorized ESSER funding and made commendable efforts to offer easy-to-use dashboards so the public could see how those funds were being spent.

A congressional push to require states and school districts receiving federal dollars to share information about classroom instruction and curriculum with parents – while leaving the details of how to do so at the state/local level – would also be in keeping with the federal role in transparency. It would also be a significant win for parents.

Keep the parents in mind

Education is foremost about student learning and growth. Nobody is more invested in the student’s growth than the child’s parents, so parents ought to be protected as a natural partner in education.

At a recent Sutherland Institute event (video embedded below), when asked how the principle of parents’ partnership in education guides Congress’ work, Rep. Burgess Owens said, “It’s interesting we have to have this conversation. Back when I was being raised in the ’60s, this was not even a concern or doubt. Everyone knew that the parents were the first advocates, facilitators for the child. It’s their child. Here we are now, decades later, and we’ll have a conversation whether we should be the advocates for our child, or some bureaucrat, some stranger.”

He went on to speak about the Parents Bill of Rights, a bill that passed the U.S. House but not the Senate. While a bill of rights might be the next best step to ensure parents’ role in education, it cannot alone do the work. Members of Congress ought to consider every potential education policy through the lens of whether it helps or hinders, clarifies or confuses the opportunity for parents to engage in their child’s education.

Expand flexibility of funding

Federal funding is a tricky subject because states and schools always want it, but many people have concern over the requirements that come with it. While the funding is still flowing to our states, Congress should look for ways to increase the flexibility. Proposals to make Title 1 funding portable, for instance, can potentially help that money get its greatest value for the students that need it. Title 1 funding is specifically intended to help low-income students, who face the unique hurdles that come from poverty. Certainly, greater flexibility of funds ought to be considered part of the exhaustive package of efforts to help these students.

Proposals to further expand the uses of 529 plans (tax-advantaged accounts, which were originally aimed at higher education and then expanded to K-12 expenses) make a lot of sense too. There have been efforts to expand the uses to home-school expenses, and doing so would show further commitment to the unique needs of each child.

Conclusion

Though education is a state, local and familial issue, Congress is involved in education policy. As the institution approaches education issues already before it, its members should use a framework that keeps the parents in mind, expands flexibility in funding, and increases access to information as they work to get education policy right.

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