Pennsylvania SR 68: A Resolution urging the Congress of the United States to fully cooperate with Federal efforts to eliminate the United States Department of Education, reaffirming Pennsylvania's sovereign authority over its educational system and recognizing the need for State-led education solutions to improve outcomes for Pennsylvania students.

Bill Text

PRINTER'S NO. 522
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE RESOLUTION
No. 68
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY KEEFER, ARGALL, COLEMAN AND MASTRIANO,
APRIL 2, 2025
REFERRED TO EDUCATION, APRIL 2, 2025
A RESOLUTION
Urging the Congress of the United States to fully cooperate with
Federal efforts to eliminate the United States Department of
Education, reaffirming Pennsylvania's sovereign authority
over its educational system and recognizing the need for
State-led education solutions to improve outcomes for
Pennsylvania students.
WHEREAS, The Tenth Amendment to the Constitution of the
United States reserves powers not delegated to the Federal
Government to the states, and education is not enumerated as a
responsibility of the Federal Government; and
WHEREAS, The United States Department of Education,
established in 1979, has overseen the expenditure of more than
$1 trillion in Federal money without significant improvement in
national student reading and mathematics scores, as evidenced by
the National Assessment of Educational Progress, which reported
in 2025 that 70% of eighth graders were below proficient in
reading and 72% were below proficient in mathematics; and
WHEREAS, Fourth and eighth grade reading scores in
Pennsylvania remain roughly unchanged since the early 1990s when
national measurements first began, with recent data showing that
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66% of Pennsylvania fourth graders are unable to pass reading
tests and 73% of eighth graders are unable to pass mathematics
tests; and
WHEREAS, Pennsylvania relies on the United States Department
of Education for approximately $1.45 billion in education
support funding, $3.3 million in mental health services funding
and $238.1 million in workforce development funding annually,
yet this funding comes with Federal mandates that limit the
Commonwealth's flexibility to address its unique educational
challenges; and
WHEREAS, The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has a
constitutional duty under Section 14 of Article III of the
Constitution of Pennsylvania to provide a thorough and efficient
system of public education, a responsibility best fulfilled by
State and local leaders who understand the diverse needs of
Pennsylvania's 1.56 million public school students across 500
school districts, 170 public charter schools and 14 universities
in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education; and
WHEREAS, The executive order "Improving Education Outcomes by
Empowering Parents, States, and Communities," signed by the
President on March 20, 2025, directs the United States Secretary
of Education to facilitate the closure of the United States
Department of Education and return authority over education to
the states, asserting that Federal control has failed to deliver
results for America's students; and
WHEREAS, Pennsylvania's students deserve an education system
free from Federal overreach, in which resources are allocated
based on local needs, such as addressing the teacher shortage,
improving career and technical education and ensuring safe
school environments, rather than complying with one-size-fits-
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all Federal regulations; and
WHEREAS, The elimination of the United States Department of
Education would allow Pennsylvania to redirect Federal money
such as the $15 billion in Title I funding and $15 billion in
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act grants toward State
priorities, including enhancing accountability and innovation in
education; and
WHEREAS, Federal efforts to dismantle the United States
Department of Education align with Pennsylvania's interest in
asserting its sovereign authority to design an education system
that prioritizes student achievement; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the Senate of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
urge the Congress of the United States to fully cooperate with
Federal efforts to eliminate the United States Department of
Education, reaffirming Pennsylvania's sovereign authority over
its educational system and recognizing the need for State-led
education solutions to improve outcomes for Pennsylvania
students; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Senate of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
pledge to work diligently to ensure that all students,
regardless of zip code, have access to a high-quality education
tailored to their needs; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Senate of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
call upon the General Assembly and the Governor to prepare for
the transition of educational authority by developing a
comprehensive plan to reallocate Federal education money,
strengthen State-led initiatives and enhance outcomes for
Pennsylvania's students; and be it further
RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to
the President of the United States, the President of the United
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