Epoch Survey Reveals Overwhelming Demand to Return Education Power to States, Parents

The responses reflect widespread dissatisfaction with federal involvement in education and a powerful mandate for reform.

A new Epoch Times survey reveals overwhelming support among readers for reforming—and in many cases, eliminating—the Department of Education. Respondents strongly favored reducing the department’s workforce, transferring control of education policy to the states, and giving parents greater influence over school decisions.

The poll, which drew more than 31,000 responses, was conducted in the days leading up to President Donald Trump’s March 20 executive order, which launched the process of dismantling the Department of Education and returning educational authority to state governments.

Since its establishment in the late 1970s, the Department of Education has spent more than $3 trillion. Yet according to a White House fact sheet, academic performance has stagnated. Despite a 245 percent increase in per-pupil spending, math and reading scores have declined, and U.S. students consistently rank behind peers in other developed nations.

In a speech before signing the order, Trump said federal efforts in education have failed to deliver results.

“Today we take a very historic action that was 45 years in the making,” he said.

“My administration will take all lawful steps to shut down the Department. We’re going to shut it down, and shut it down as quickly as possible—it’s doing us no good.”

The president said critical components of the department such as Pell Grants and resources for children with disabilities would be “preserved in full” and shifted to other agencies.

The administration’s effort to wind down the Education Department quickly drew pushback. Teachers unions vowed to challenge the move in court, and several congressional Democrats signaled opposition to any attempt to shut down the agency, which would ultimately require legislative action.

Strong Support for Workforce Cuts

A central finding in the survey is the near-unanimous backing for reducing the Department of Education’s workforce. Ninety-three percent of respondents supported the move, with 85 percent saying they “strongly agree.” Only 6 percent were opposed.

That view was reinforced by answers to a related question, in which 85 percent said cutting the department’s staff and shifting control to the states would improve the quality of education in their own communities.

Department of Education employee leaves the building with belongings in Washington, on March 20, 2025. President Donald Trump is preparing to sign an executive order to abolish the Department of Education. Win McNamee/Getty Images

Earlier in March, Education Secretary Linda McMahon announced a significant downsizing of the department, eliminating more than 1,300 positions following 600 voluntary buyouts. McMahon described the move as a “significant step toward restoring the greatness of the United States education system.”

“Today’s reduction in force reflects the Department of Education’s commitment to efficiency, accountability, and ensuring that resources are directed where they matter most: to students, parents, and teachers,” she said.

Trump praised the decision, saying, “She cut a large number, but she kept the best people—and we'll see how it all works out.”

Seventy-five percent of survey respondents said they believe the goal of increasing efficiency would be achieved through the layoffs, reinforcing the perception that bureaucratic bloat hinders educational progress.

Secretary of Education Linda McMahon arrives at President Trump's joint address to Congress in Washington, on March 4, 2025. Tierney L. Cross/Getty Images

The cuts were met with criticism from the American Federation of Government Employees Local 252, which represents Department of Education employees.

“What is clear from the past weeks of mass firings, chaos, and unchecked unprofessionalism is that this regime has no respect for the thousands of workers who have dedicated their careers to serve their fellow Americans,” Sheria Smith, president of the union, said in a statement.

Resounding Backing for More Parental Authority, Local Control

Beyond staff reductions, the survey revealed broad support for returning control of education to states and families.

Ninety-three percent of respondents said parents should have more influence over school curricula, policies, and educational standards, with only 4 percent opposed.

Parental rights in education is an issue that has grown increasingly prominent in political debates. While speaking about the issue of school choice during his presidential campaign, Trump advocated for a dramatic rethinking of schools.

“I want every parent in America to be empowered to send their child to [the] public, private, charter, or faith-based school of their choice,“ Trump said. ”The time for universal school choice has come. As we return education to the states, I will use every power I have to give parents this right.”

President Donald Trump speaks at an education event and executive order signing in the East Room of the White House, on March 20, 2025. Jose Luis Magana/AP Photo

Similarly, 85 percent of respondents agreed that states should control education policy without federal involvement, including 65 percent who strongly agreed. Only 7 percent expressed disagreement, underscoring the strength of public preference for local governance over centralized oversight.

An identical 85 percent also agreed that giving states more control would improve the United States’ global education rankings. These results reflect skepticism about Washington’s ability to manage education and a desire to see authority returned to state and community levels.

A student is seen in a classroom in Nevitt Elementary School, in Phoenix, on Oct. 26, 2022. Olivier Touron/AFP via Getty Images

Trump’s executive order reflects these sentiments, citing national assessment scores showing that 70 percent of eighth graders lack reading proficiency and 72 percent struggle with math.

“Our Nation’s bright future relies on empowered families, engaged communities, and excellent educational opportunities for every child,“ the order states. ”Unfortunately, the experiment of controlling American education through Federal programs and dollars—and the unaccountable bureaucracy those programs and dollars support—has plainly failed our children, our teachers, and our families.”

Growing Momentum to Eliminate Department Entirely

Perhaps the most striking result from the survey is that 79 percent of respondents support eliminating the Department of Education altogether. Sixty-three percent said they strongly agreed with that proposal, while 11 percent were opposed and 11 percent remained neutral.

This finding suggests that public frustration with the department goes beyond operational issues or inefficiencies. For many, the role of the federal government in education is fundamentally unwelcome.

“The Federal education bureaucracy is not working,” Trump’s order reads. “Closure of the Department of Education would drastically improve program implementation in higher education.”

Fully closing the department would require congressional action, which some Republicans have advocated for and some Democrats have vowed to oppose.

Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), who introduced a bill earlier this year to abolish the department, has called on his colleagues in Congress to pass the measure and support Trump’s “bold agenda” in education reform.

Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) speaks to the press outside the U.S. Capitol on March 11, 2025. Roberto Schmidt/AFP via Getty Images

Immediately after Trump signed the executive order, Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, said in a post on social media that he agrees with Trump’s view that the Education Department has failed in its mission and that he will soon submit legislation to shut it down for good.

Trump’s executive order mirrored this concern, noting that the department maintains a public relations staff of more than 80 people at a cost of $10 million annually.

“Mathematics and reading scores are down in public schools, despite per-pupil spending having increased by more than 245 percent since the 1970s,” the order states. “More spending does not mean better education.”

The amount of taxpayer dollars the Education Department spends each year varies, in part because its gross costs are offset by student loan repayments and other inflows classified as “earned revenue.” In 2024, the net cost of the department’s operations was $218.4 billion.

The headquarters of the Department of Education are shown in Washington on March 12, 2025. Win McNamee/Getty Images

While most survey respondents supported decentralization of education, opinions were more mixed on whether the federal government should continue enforcing civil rights laws in education. A slight majority—51 percent—said it should not, while 27 percent supported maintaining that role. Twenty-two percent were undecided.

There was also division over the department’s role in administering college financial aid. Just 21 percent said it was the most essential function to preserve, while 53 percent disagreed and 26 percent were neutral.

Despite these divisions, there was clear consensus that readers do not believe that staff reductions will negatively affect programs such as student loans or Pell Grants. Sixty-seven percent rejected the idea that layoffs would harm such federally funded aid, 13 percent believed otherwise, and 20 percent were undecided.

This suggests that many readers of The Epoch Times believe that these services could be preserved under alternative structures or agencies.

People walk on the campus of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in Chapel Hill, N.C., on June 29, 2023. Eros Hoagland/Getty Images

A particularly telling result came when respondents were asked whether the Department of Education has been effective in improving the quality of U.S. education. A full 90 percent said “No,” with 79 percent strongly disagreeing. Only 6 percent agreed with the statement.

This overwhelming disapproval aligns with the broader survey trend favoring reform, decentralization, and—in many cases—complete elimination of the department.

Sumer Smith, an elementary school teacher, speaks to her students virtually during a period of Non-Traditional Instruction at Hazelwood Elementary School in Louisville, Ky., on Jan. 11, 2022. Jon Cherry/Getty Images

Readers’ Reform Priorities

In the final question of the survey, readers were asked to identify their top priorities for improving education in the United States, with the option to select from multiple choices or submit their own ideas.

The most commonly chosen priority was the removal of critical race theory (CRT) and other politically driven content from school curricula. Close behind was support for expanding school choice, including access to charter schools and voucher programs—reflecting strong interest in empowering families to choose the educational path that best fits their children. Other frequently selected priorities included modernizing school curricula to emphasize STEM subjects and job-related skills, as well as enhancing school safety and restoring discipline in the classroom.

In addition to these selections, thousands of respondents shared their views through write-in responses. While diverse, the suggestions broadly echoed the themes of the multiple-choice results and coalesced around three core ideas.

The first was a call to return to academic fundamentals. Many respondents urged schools to prioritize reading, writing, math, science, and civics—and to eliminate ideological content, including CRT; diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives; and gender theory. There were also strong calls to restore life skills education and discipline in classrooms.

The second theme was parental authority. Respondents repeatedly emphasized that parents—not government officials—should determine what children are taught. Proposals included more school choice, greater curriculum transparency, and allowing education funding to follow students to the schools of their families’ choosing.

Finally, many readers called for decentralization of education policy. There was broad support for returning authority to state and local governments, with some respondents advocating for the complete elimination of the Department of Education. The prevailing view was that education systems should reflect the values of local communities rather than the dictates of federal agencies.

Taken together, the responses reflect widespread dissatisfaction with federal involvement in education and a powerful mandate for reform—centered on academic integrity, local control, and the primacy of parents in shaping their children’s futures.

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