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House Appropriations subcommittee hearing turns to whether federal K–12 dollars improve outcomes
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Summary
Witnesses and members of the Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations Subcommittee sparred over whether increased federal funding drives better K–12 outcomes, with witnesses and members offering competing evidence on funding effectiveness, the Department of Education's role, and school choice.
Chairman Aderholt opened a Labor, Health and Human Services, Education Subcommittee hearing saying the panel would examine “the effectiveness of federal K through 12 funding and the importance of school choice.” The chairman warned that repeated increases in federal education spending have not produced better results and said the administration wants to “pause, assess our efforts.”
Ranking Member DeLauro disputed that framing, saying cuts or dismantling of the Department of Education would harm students and that federal research and civil‑rights enforcement are essential. “Elon Musk is taking a wrecking ball to the welfare of children in schools and their ability to learn,” she said, charging that recent contract terminations and proposed policy changes have removed key data and oversight functions.
The hearing brought four outside witnesses: Virginia Gentles of the Defense of Freedom Institute for Policy Studies; Lindsey Burke of the Heritage Foundation's Center for Education Policy; Starley Coleman of the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools; and Robert Kim of Education Law Center. They provided sharply different diagnoses and prescriptions:
- Virginia Gentles said decades of rising federal spending have failed students and urged state and parental control and school‑choice options. Gentles told the subcommittee that “there is no state in the country where the majority of students are performing at grade level in math and reading,” and criticized federal monitoring and program complexity as burdensome.
- Lindsey Burke summarized long‑term increases in per‑pupil spending and argued that added dollars have largely grown administrative staffing rather than boosted academic performance. Burke cited research she said shows “no strong or systematic relationship between school expenditures and student performance.”
- Starley Coleman highlighted growth in public charter schools and said the federal Charter Schools Program (CSP) is a modest but essential catalyst for new charters, citing CSP grants that have supported startups in Idaho, Texas and Alabama.
- Robert Kim emphasized the federal role in leveling opportunity and enforcing civil rights. Kim warned that converting targeted federal programs into block grants or redirecting funds to private options risks reduced accountability for vulnerable students and weaker enforcement of civil‑rights and special education protections.
Members on both sides stressed children should be the focus. Several Republicans called for more state and parental control, including portable funding through education savings accounts and block grants. Democrats and witnesses who focus on civil rights urged preserving federal oversight and targeted programs such as Title I and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
The hearing featured repeated references to recent and proposed federal actions — including contract cancellations and policy reviews — that witnesses and members said complicate the committee's work. No committee votes occurred at the hearing; members debated policy direction and funding priorities.
The hearing will continue to inform upcoming appropriations work as the committee considers competing proposals about the size, structure and conditions attached to federal K–12 funding.
