They say the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. Whether Albert Einstein actually said it or not, the point stands: nowhere is this truer than in America’s broken education system.
Since the Department of Education opened its doors in 1979, we’ve been pouring increasing federal money into our public school system – more per child than most developed nations – but our test scores keep sliding. And the more our schools fail our children, the more Washington doubles down on what isn’t working.
As a doctor, a parent, and Louisiana’s senator, I’ve seen firsthand the toll our broken education system exacts. As chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, I know there’s only one way to fix it: let the states take the lead.
That’s why Congress should deliver on President Trump’s promise: dismantle the Department of Education and let states, families, and educators shape our children’s education and future.
Look no further than my home state of Louisiana, where we told Washington to take a hike and took control of our own destiny. The proof is in the pudding. When states lead, students succeed.
In 2019, our students were last or near last in the nation for reading and math. In six short years, Louisiana students have made some of the most significant academic gains in the country. Our fourth graders led the nation in reading growth for the second consecutive cycle according to The Nation’s Report Card, and we are among the top five states for math improvement. We’re one of just two states where fourth graders exceeded pre-pandemic scores in reading and math. And our eighth graders are posting gains in math when much of the country is seeing declines.
Even more importantly, Louisiana students with disabilities and those from economically disadvantaged backgrounds are now exceeding the national average in both achievement and growth.
This progress wasn’t driven by Washington bureaucrats or yet another bloated federal program dictating how classrooms should be run. This progress happened because those closest to the students – local leaders, teachers, and parents – made the decisions.
Louisiana’s success is no accident; it’s the result of strategic reforms that put students first. We overhauled literacy instruction with a Science of Reading-based plan, ensuring that phonics is the foundation of reading education. In math, we prioritized the mastery of fundamental skills, giving students the tools to succeed in advanced coursework. These efforts helped Louisiana students achieve some of the highest academic growth in the nation.
To strengthen teacher support, Louisiana launched a statewide mentor training program in 2017, building a high-quality network of educators to guide new teachers. By improving teacher preparation and cutting unnecessary bureaucracy, we gave educators the tools to succeed in the classroom.
We also expanded school choice, ensuring families have more options to find the best educational environment for their children. Whether through charter schools, scholarship programs, or open enrollment, Louisiana has empowered parents to choose schools that meet their children’s unique needs. That’s why I co-sponsored the Educational Choice for Children Act, which expands school choice opportunities nationwide, giving every child the chance to succeed, no matter their ZIP code.
To sustain this momentum, we also expanded high-dosage tutoring, launched a statewide K-3 literacy and math screening program to catch learning gaps early, and implemented a nationally recognized accountability system that raises academic standards and improves career education. Louisiana’s approach proves that when states lead, students win.
We need to make this model the national standard. The Department of Education is a bloated bureaucracy that holds schools back from success. We don’t need federal mandates telling Louisiana, or any state, how to educate its students. We need to return power to the states, where local leaders can tailor education to their communities, and families can have a greater voice in their children’s future.
Eliminating the Department of Education isn’t about cutting resources. It’s about cutting red tape and the over-broad, one-size-fits-all mandates. It’s about trusting parents to know what’s best for their kids. It’s about empowering teachers, not federal bureaucrats, to shape what happens in the classroom. And most of all, it’s about giving every student, no matter where they live, the chance to succeed.
It’s time for Washington to step aside and let the states lead. Let’s finish the job. Let’s fulfill President Trump’s pledge to return education to those who know it best — parents, teachers, and local communities.
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Sen. Bill Cassidy, M.D. has represented Louisiana in the U.S. Senate since 2015.
The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.
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