In this episode, Jen, Kyle, and Stuart dive into one of the most polarizing education policy proposals of our time: Project 2025.
The team examines the potential dismantling of the U.S. Department of Education, the shift to state-controlled funding, and the far-reaching consequences for students, teachers, and families across the nation.
Join the hosts as they explore:
- The history and role of the Department of Education in U.S. schools.
- How Project 2025 aims to redefine federal and state responsibilities in education.
- The tension between regional control, equity, and systemic bias.
- Potential implications for Vermont’s schools and property tax system.
- Broader questions about the purpose of education and the values it reflects in a divided America.
With their signature mix of candor and insight, they tackle questions about federalism, capitalism, and the intersection of policy and practice in the classroom. Whether you’re an educator, parent, or policymaker, this conversation will leave you thinking deeply about the future of education in America.
Resources Mentioned
Project 2025: Chapter 11: Department of Education
By Linda Burke
The Heritage Foundation, 2024
Developed by “a broad coalition of over 100 conservative organizations,” Project 2025 presents a menu of policy suggestions for conservative politicians to implement. The link above takes you directly to the chapter focused on their policy proposals for the Department of Education, all of which strike at the following mission: “Federal education policy should be limited and, ultimately, the federal Department of Education should be eliminated.”
Linda McMahon’s First Speech as the Secretary of Education
S1 E3 was recorded prior to President Trump’s inauguration, and so we discussed Project 2025’s policy suggestions for the Department of Education as we looked ahead to what his administration might do for education. Since then, Linda McMahon has been appointed and approved by the Senate to serve as his Secretary of Education. The link above takes you to her first speech as the secretary. The speech is titled: “Our department’s final mission.”
How the South Won the Civil War: Oligarchy, Democracy, and the Continuing Fight for the Soul of America
By Heather Cox Richardson
Oxford University Press, 2022
This insightful book examines how post–Civil War reconciliation entrenched power dynamics that persist today, particularly around education, states’ rights, and civil liberties.
Democracy in Chains: The Deep History of the Radical Right’s Stealth Plan for America
By Nancy MacLean
Penguin Books, 2017
This book provides crucial context for understanding the ideological and historical roots of policies like Project 2025, exploring how movements pushing for privatization, school choice, and the dismantling of federal oversight have evolved over decades.
