Education committee advances resolution urging dismantling of U.S. Department of Education

The Tennessee full committee on education on a voice and roll call advanced Senate Joint Resolution 650, a nonbinding measure urging the federal government to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education and urging the governor to establish a task force to prepare the state for that possibility.

Leader Zachary, sponsor of the resolution, told the committee the measure was rooted in federal cost and accountability concerns. "Education is a state and local responsibility," he said, and argued the Department "has done nothing but expand federal control and increase regulations, all without improving student outcomes." He cited what he described as inflation-adjusted growth in K–12 spending since the 1970s and flat long-term NAEP reading and math scores for older students as evidence that expanded federal roles have not produced results.

Zachary also referenced administrative scale and budgets, stating the Department has "over 4,000 employees" and citing budget figures as part of his case that much federal money is passed back to states "with strings attached." He urged the committee to back a state-level response and asked the governor to create a task force so Tennessee can "do education the Tennessee way."

Members pushed back on the proposal and its premises. Regent McKenzie questioned the sponsor's historical comparisons and data, asking which federal programs—free and reduced-price lunch, Title I, special education, career and technical education, or Pell grants—would be eliminated under the sponsor's approach and arguing that some cited comparisons were not meaningful. McKenzie also criticized recent federal education leaders by name: "Both DeVos and McMahon are totally incompetent and should have never been put in that position," she said.

President Johnson, who identified himself as a 27-year special-education teacher, warned of practical consequences if federal supports were lost. "Those federal dollars, which are only a small portion of our education, ... are needed," he said, noting programs for special education, CTE and adult education and warning there was "no guarantee without the department that that money is gonna come to us." Johnson told the committee that federal funds have supported services that enabled students with disabilities to graduate and pursue college or careers.

Representative Hakim asked the sponsor to define what "the Tennessee way" would look like in practice and raised concerns that reduced federal funding could shift burdens to local communities and create uneven access to quality education across the state. Zachary replied that the resolution is an urging measure and cited Tennessee's prior Medicaid block-grant arrangement and claimed shared savings as an example of state-managed programs that could be replicated.

After discussion the chair recognized a motion to end debate. The clerk reported the roll: 16 ayes and 3 nays. The chair announced that Senate Joint Resolution 650 had received a majority and would move out to calendar rules. The committee adjourned "to the call of the chair."