TCT-S-03 · Education
The federal government runs U.S. schools
Statement and context
“We’re going to close the Department of Education in Washington, D.C., and send it back to the States, where it belongs, and let the States run our educational system.” — 2024 Republican platform, repeatedly delivered by Trump during the campaign.
“We’re going to close the Department of Education in Washington, D.C., and send it back to the States, where it belongs, and let the States run our educational system.” — 2024 Republican platform, repeatedly delivered by Trump during the campaign.
What the evidence shows
State and local governments already exercise primary control over curriculum, school operations and most K-12 funding. The federal department administers civil-rights enforcement, student aid, data and targeted programs; federal funding is a minority of K-12 revenue. See the Department’s federal role explainer and NCES revenue data.
Misleading. Closing the department is a policy proposal, but “send it back” implies a federal operational control that generally already resides with states and localities.
Sources and attribution
Tracker research synthesis; inspect the linked evidence and research record.