The focus of the meeting was the potential closure of the Department of Education and states gaining control of educational programming.
U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon recently met with Pennsylvania legislators to discuss the potential closure of the Department of Education and states having control of educational programming by shifting the responsibility from the federal government back to the states.
Secretary McMahon met with more than a dozen Republican legislators in Pennsylvania, including Representative Bryan Cutler of Lancaster County.
Cutler serves as the Republican co-chair of the House Education Committee for the state legislature.
“The secretary was really highlighting the federal government’s desire, and specifically the [Pennsylvania Department of Education’s], to empower parents and local school districts in terms of education,” said Cutler.
McMahon discussed that fully closing the Department of Education would require action from Congress, but many of the department’s responsibilities are being shifted to the states.
The secretary began traveling across the country this month to highlight local programs demonstrating community leadership. She has made stops in Pennsylvania, Delaware, and New Jersey schools.
“The Trump administration’s goal is clear. Take the bureaucracy out of education, expand school choice and make sure every student has access to quality education,” said McMahon in a video promoting the tour.
After the meeting, Cutler said he was looking forward to the dismantling of the Department of Education, and that it would “empower the state” and “give parents the opportunities to be better involved.”
“I’m excited about the opportunities that we will have as a state,” he said. Shifting control over education to the states “really will continue… to tailor the individual education experience for each student and make sure that they have the best opportunity to succeed. And I think that should always be at the top of our list in terms of goals.”
Prior to meeting with the state legislators, Secretary McMahon visited Foose Elementary. The school is a part of Harrisburg Community Schools.
