What is the federal government’s role in setting educational standards for Southern Maryland schools?
Constitutionally, none. The federal government has no proper role in setting educational standards for Southern Maryland schools. However, the No Child Left Behind Act as well as many, many other federal mandates are currently the tail wagging the dog. Parents are the proper authority over their child’s education. Our state constitution mandates a state role in education which it partly delegates to the local education authorities. The federal government’s involvement in setting educational standards has had a tremendous negative effect on quality and accountability. The GOP platform used to call for the elimination of the Department of Education, a very good idea. I am serving my fourth four-year term on the Charles County Board of Education and have seen firsthand the negative effects that federal involvement has had and is having on our schools in Southern Maryland. As a congressman, I would eliminate the $67 billion Department of Education budget. That money can better be managed a
