It’s time to wind down the Department of Education

Of all the things the federal government does that it shouldn’t, education policy is near the top of the list. Education is, and always has been, a state and local responsibility. Yet for decades, Washington, D.C., has taken an outsize role in telling states how to educate their children — often with disappointing results.

If we’re serious about improving education, it’s time for a thoughtful, commonsense discussion about winding down the department altogether. That’s why it’s encouraging to see President Donald Trump and newly confirmed Secretary of Education Linda McMahon reducing the role of the Department of Education and returning power where it belongs: to states and local communities.