LANSING, Mich. — Sen. Jonathan Lindsey, R-Coldwater, issued the following statement following President Donald Trump’s executive order to eliminate the U.S. Department of Education:
“Since the inception of the Department of Education in 1979, we have seen a dramatic downturn in our national school systems. Our students are suffering, and our national literacy and math proficiency percentages continue to decline.
“During the COVID-19 lockdown, many students, especially K-4 students, lost access to key parts of their education. In the most recent assessment for 2024, the National Assessment for Educational Progress found that only 30% of fourth graders performed at a proficient level in reading literacy. In addition, fourth grade students have also regressed in mathematics. This year just 39% of fourth graders scored at a proficient level.
“The Department of Education has failed to address key issues stemming from restricting students from classrooms, prioritized failed learning models and moved away from teaching the ABCs and instead teaching DEI.
“After suffering the greatest educational challenge of our time, the federal bureaucracy has failed our children. They have prioritized gender ideology, such as using Title IX as a weapon to attack women’s sports, rather than solve our nation’s educational deficit. We must fund our students, not the system. I support legislation that gives parents more say over their children’s education dollars.
“I believe it is time to return to our previous standard in education. The American educational system used to be regarded as the international standard. President Trump’s plan to eliminate the Department of Education will bring the United States back into the golden age of education by returning power and responsibility to the states.”
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