Apr. 27, 2017
HARRISBURG – Rep. Dan Moul (R-Adams) was at the White House Wednesday to witness the signing of President Donald Trump’s executive order to put public education back in the hands of the states and local school districts. The president’s order moves to reverse actions by previous administrations that have imposed costly federal mandates on schools to standardize curricula, testing and measurements for achievement. The president contends that authority should rest with the states.
Moul joined Pennsylvania House Speaker Mike Turzai (R-Allegheny), Vice President Mike Pence, U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos, the governors of six states and members of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives at the signing in the Roosevelt Room.
“The president believes that the federal government has gone too far in its control of public education,” said Moul. “He said that previous administrations have ‘wrongfully forced states and schools to comply with federal whims,’ and have dictated what our nation’s children are taught. He believes, as I do, that it is time to return that power to the states and local school districts. It stands to reason that our educators know best what knowledge and resources our students need to be successful.”
Trump’s executive order calls for a review of federal regulations that limit local control of K-12 education. The review is expected to determine what mandates will be rolled back or eliminated. The president has already taken action to abolish federal regulations governing implementation of the Every Student Succeeds Act and new standards on teacher education and preparation. Both actions give states greater flexibility in education.
To see the signing and related speeches,
click here or upon the video box below.