As the race to November intensifies, education policy remains overshadowed by other issues. Despite the focus on immigration, foreign policy, and the economy, Donald Trump and Kamala Harris have distinct education agendas. Trump’s plan emphasizes parental rights, universal school choice, and “patriotic education.” He aims to overhaul the educational system by enhancing school choice, empowering parents, and supporting teachers. In contrast, Harris highlights the Biden-Harris administration’s historic education investments and vows to expand them further. The differences in their educational approaches reflect broader ideological divides in the 2024 presidential election.
Trump criticizes current public school curricula, advocating for a focus on reading, writing, and math, and opposes teachings on gender and race. Harris, along with Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, intends to continue supporting educational resources, opposing Trump’s plan to cut funding and dissolve the Department of Education. Harris has condemned the Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025 for its controversial proposals, which Trump has disavowed despite connections to his administration.
Closing the U.S. Department of Education
Trump has proposed closing the Department of Education and redistributing its duties to the states, arguing for local control. However, state and local governments primarily fund K-12 education, not the federal government. Meanwhile, at the Democratic National Convention, Harris pledged to protect the department’s role in public school funding. Trump’s proposals include credentialing teachers with patriotic values and cutting administrative roles, while Democrats aim to recruit more educators and improve conditions.
Trump wants schools to adopt a “Parental Bill of Rights” and threatens to cut federal funding for schools teaching critical race theory or gender ideology. The Democrats’ platform supports public education funding, opposing schemes like private-school vouchers and tuition tax credits, which they argue divert funds from public schools.
Title IX
The Biden-Harris administration’s Title IX update extends protections for LGBTQ+ students but faces legal challenges from GOP-led states. These disputes have fragmented the policy’s implementation. The changes revoked Trump-era Title IX provisions, which Trump pledges to overturn if reelected.
Student Debt and Higher Education
Harris touts the administration’s achievements in student debt relief, including nearly $170 billion for borrowers. However, the Supreme Court temporarily blocked their latest repayment plan. Harris’s economic proposal includes making higher education affordable and reducing degree requirements for federal jobs. Trump criticizes Biden-Harris’s student loan policies as illegal and plans to establish the “American Academy,” funded by taxing large private university endowments.
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