Part 6/9:
Many advocates for reform argue that the Department of Education has outlived its usefulness. Since its establishment in 1977, students' performance metrics in key areas like reading and math have shown a consistent decline. Critics assert that the Department functions merely as a middleman, acting as a barrier rather than a facilitator for educational progress.
There is a growing consensus that a more direct approach is needed, one that places funding in the hands of parents rather than funneling it through layers of bureaucracy. This shift would allow families to make decisions best suited to their children's educational needs, reflecting a trust in local communities over a distant federal agency.