The Department of Education’s FY 2027 budget proposes a $2 billion ‘Make Education Great Again’ (MEGA) grant to consolidate programs, emphasize reading and math, and grant states more discretion. The opinion piece highlights concerns from the department’s budget justification about the lack of mechanisms to measure the grant’s success. It argues this could result in ineffective use of funds without accountability.
Key Points
- Proposes consolidating education programs and prioritizing core subjects like reading and math.
- Aims to provide states with greater discretion in fund allocation.
- Criticizes the absence of success measurement tools, potentially leading to unaccountable spending.
Implications for Educational Freedom
This proposed grant could exemplify government overreach by allocating large sums without accountability, potentially undermining educational freedom and school choice if funds are not directed toward empowering parents and innovative options like vouchers or charters. It may limit parental rights by prioritizing bureaucratic discretion over measurable outcomes that support diverse educational pathways.
Source: Opinion: New Grants Would Dump Education Money on States With No Way to Measure Success
