This story was originally published by the WND News Center.
President Trump's agenda long has included making America's education system better, with one component being a plan to shut down the federal Department of Education and turn those responsibilities back to the states.
Now an order to begin that process is in the works, according to a report from NBC News, which cited sources "familiar with the plans."
Trump was on video during his campaign explaining, "One other thing I'll be doing very early in the administration is closing up the Department of Education in Washington D.C., and sending all education and education work and needs back to the states. In total American society pours more than $1 trillion a year into public education systems but instead of being at the top of the list, we are literally right smack — guess what — at the bottom."
Trump already has moved on the nation's education industry, issuing an order to expand school choice and directing the federal bureaucrats to issue guidance to states about how they can use federal funds to promote that.
While Trump cannot unilaterally close down a federal agency, his orders can move the education industry that direction.
Last summer, Trump also said then nation would be helped by cutting federal funding for schools pushing the racist "critical race theory" and opening civil rights reviews of schools that discriminate against Asian Americans.
He's also suggested a credentialing system for teachers who "embrace patriotic values."
The Gateway Pundit explained Trump said while campaigning that his idea of a federal Education Department would be to have "one person plus a secretary."
"And all the person has to do is, 'Are you teaching English? Are you teaching arithmetic? What are you doing? Reading, writing and arithmetic, and are you not teaching woke?' Not teaching woke is a very big factor, but we'll have a very small staff," he had explained.
Trump's pick to lead the federal agency, replacing "Biden-appointed Marxist Miguel Cardona," is Linda McMahon, who earned his praise.
"For the past four years, as the chair of the board at the America First Policy Institute (AFPI), Linda has been a fierce advocate for parents' rights, working hard at both AFPI and America First Works (AFW) to achieve universal school choice in 12 States, giving children the opportunity to receive an excellent education, regardless of zip code or income. As Secretary of Education, Linda will fight tirelessly to expand 'choice' to every state in America, and empower parents to make the best Education decisions for their families," Trump said.
