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Project 2025 - 15 Negative Outcomes for American Public Education

Elliott Robinson

The Heritage Foundation outlines a vision for American public education in the 921-page manifesto Mandate for Leadership - The Conservative Promise (Project 2025). Their vision dismantles the protections, expertise, and research provided by the Department of Education and replaces it with the elimination/ reduction of educational services for low-income students and students with disabilities; "no strings attached" block grants to states; public funding schemes for private education (regardless of wealth); and weakened teacher unions.

The Project 2025 section on education states, "Federal education policy should be limited and, ultimately, the federal Department of Education should be eliminated" (p. 319). This has been a battle cry of conservatives since the agency was created in 1979 under then-President Jimmy Carter. Before its creation, federal education policymaking and enforcement fell under the U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare, which became the Department of Health and Human Services.

If Donald Trump becomes the 47th President, Project 2025 will serve as his framework for deconstructing the American public education system. Below are 15 of the adverse educational outcomes awaiting Americans if Project 2025 is implemented:

  1. Eliminate the Department of Education. (p. 319)

  2. Use federal taxpayer funds for private education. (p. 319)

  3. Eliminate federal funding for low-income students. (p. 350)

  4. Eliminate the Head Start program. (p. 482)

  5. Remove Title IX protections for women and girls regarding sexual assault. (p. 333)

  6. Policy Position: Systematic racism never existed in America and should not be taught. (p. 342, 343)

  7. Eliminate the "disparate impact" standard of school discipline, which shows a pattern/ practice of systematic bias against children of color. Overturn previous disparate impact consent orders and stop current investigations (Title VI). (p. 334-336)

  8. Eliminate tracking/ intervention of over-represented children of color or children with special needs in Special Education. (p. 336)

  9. Dissolve teacher unions. (p. 342)

  10. Eliminate universal daycare in favor of in-home childcare. (p. 486)

  11. Restrict free lunch eligibility to strict low-income guidelines. (p. 302,303)

  12. Provide states with "no strings attached" block education grants without regulations or oversight. (p. 320)

  13. Eliminate student loan forgiveness without exception for public service. (p. 332, 338)

  14. Privatize higher education loans using market interest rates. (p. 340, 341)

  15. Reduce funding for students with disabilities and leave it to states' discretion. (p. 349, 350)

This list is not exhaustive; however, it shows you the breadth and depth of changes that are a part of Project 2025's plan for public education in America.

Contrary to public opinion and, at times, political rhetoric, the Department of Education does not create a school curriculum. Decisions regarding school curriculum and content are usually handled at the local and, more recently, state levels. However, political talking points and the recent push by conservative lawmakers would lead you to believe the Department of Education is intimately involved in the minutia and inner workings of our local public schools. This position is used to justify attacks on the Department of Education and public education in America.

The Heritage Foundation’s vision minimizes the educational needs of all children and centralizes decision-making away from experts. It also under-resources our school systems, which often rely on the Department of Education to help them reach all children under their care. If this plan is implemented, public education in America will find itself overwhelmed and grasping for life. This is a future that we cannot allow to happen.

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