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Hold These Truths with Dan Crenshaw
Eliminate the Department of Education? A Conversation with Dr. Beth Akers
Feb 8, 2025
In this discussion, Dr. Beth Akers, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and author of "Making College Pay," dives into the potential elimination of the Department of Education. She explains its limited role in K-12 education and the implications for federal student loan programs. Topics include rising tuition costs, the impact of loan forgiveness, and the need for reforms to streamline student loan structures. Akers also advocates for opening Pell Grants to trade schools, emphasizing innovative educational pathways and school choice.
53:53
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Quick takeaways
- Eliminating the Department of Education could lead to the transfer of essential programs like Pell Grants to other agencies without disrupting access.
- The current student loan structure needs reforms to ensure better alignment of loan limits with graduates' earning potential and institutional accountability.
Deep dives
Understanding the Department of Education's Role
The Department of Education was established to centralize federal funding and programs related to education, specifically for K-12 and higher education. Initially, many of the programs now administered by this department existed prior to its creation in 1979, which raises questions about the necessity of the department itself. The podcast discusses how federal intervention in K-12 education is minimal and primarily exists for higher education funding, including various student loan programs. This results in a complex landscape where the department is seen more as a financial intermediary rather than a comprehensive education authority.
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