Washington [US], July 15: On July 14, the US Supreme Court cleared the way for President Donald Trump's administration to resume the dissolution of the Department of Education in an effort to reduce the federal government's role in education and return control of education to the states.
In the latest high-court victory for President Trump, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned a federal judge's ruling that reinstated nearly 1,400 employees affected by mass layoffs and blocked the transfer of key Department of Education functions to other agencies. Other lawsuits are pending in lower courts on the issue.
The Supreme Court's ruling was issued in the form of a short, unsigned order. Three of the court's liberal justices dissented, Reuters reported on July 15.
Created by Congress in 1979, the Department of Education has key roles such as allocating college loans, monitoring student achievement, and enforcing civil rights in schools. It also provides federal funding to struggling school districts and provides assistance to students with disabilities.
However, federal law prohibits the department from interfering with curriculum, instruction, personnel or the school system - three areas that fall under the control of state and local governments, which provide more than 85 percent of public school operating funds.
The Trump administration has criticized the Department of Education as a symbol of bureaucratic waste, and in March Mr. Trump signed an executive order to close the Department of Education "to the maximum extent permitted by law."
He also pledged to maintain some essential programs, such as Pell grants for low-income students and support for students with special needs, but they will be transferred to other departments for implementation.
The Supreme Court ruling allows President Trump to move forward with his plan to abolish the Department of Education after it was blocked by a federal judge.
Also on July 14, attorneys general or governors of 24 states and the District of Columbia filed a lawsuit against the federal government for freezing about $6.8 billion in federal funds approved by Congress for public schools through elementary school, Reuters reported.
A total of six programs have been defunded, including education support for children of migrant agricultural workers; teacher recruitment and training; English language instruction; academic enrichment classes; after-school and summer programs, as well as literacy and adult skills training.
Source: Thanh Nien Newspaper