The upcoming U.S. presidential election, set for November 2024, presents a choice between two distinct educational philosophies. On one side is Kamala Harris, who represents the Democratic Party's vision of federally supported public education that emphasizes inclusivity, equity, and comprehensive learning.

On the other is Donald Trump, representing a Republican stance that seeks to minimize federal intervention, empower parental control, and focus on traditional values in education. As election day looms, understanding their contrasting approaches to education is crucial, given the profound impact that educational policies have on students, teachers, and communities across the country.

Education policy has become a battleground for broader cultural debates, encompassing discussions about parental rights, censorship, federal versus state control, gender issues, and the appropriateness of certain curricula.

On Closing the U.S. Department of Education: Centralization vs. Local Control

Image Credit: Donald Trump from Wikimedia Commons

Trump's Stance: Former President Donald Trump has made it clear that he wants to eliminate the U.S. Department of Education, aiming to shift control back to individual states. During an interview on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Trump stated that “education should be moved back to the states.” This position stems from a belief that the federal government has no constitutional role in education and that local authorities are better suited to understand the specific needs of their communities. The closure of the Department of Education would, in Trump’s vision, lead to more locally tailored, responsive education systems that can uphold the values of the communities they serve.

Trump’s push to dismantle the federal department has symbolic weight. It reflects his broader vision of reducing government bureaucracy and limiting federal influence over what he perceives as overreach in local matters. By taking control away from the federal government, Trump believes that the education system can be free from what he calls "Radical Left indoctrination," instead focusing on more traditional, "pro-American" values.

However, his position leaves questions unanswered about the practical implications of dismantling the Department, particularly regarding its U$ 30 billion in funding. This money supports vital programs like the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), which assists millions of students with disabilities, and Title I funding for schools in low-income areas. Critics argue that removing federal oversight could severely impact these vulnerable populations.

Harris's Stance: Kamala Harris takes the opposite approach, vehemently opposing any plans to eliminate the U.S. Department of Education. Harris emphasizes that the federal role is vital for ensuring educational equity, particularly for marginalized students. She highlights the fact that federal funding plays a significant part in helping students from low-income backgrounds and children with disabilities, and that federal oversight helps hold schools accountable to civil rights standards.

Harris believes that without a federal role, disparities in education would widen, with wealthier states providing more resources while poorer states struggle. She stresses that the Department of Education plays a crucial role in leveling the playing field and ensuring all children receive quality education, regardless of their zip code.

Harris has also backed proposals to increase funding to underserved communities and expand federal initiatives that help underprivileged students. Her stance is aligned with the Democratic vision of strengthening public schools and improving federal support for education to foster equality across the country.

On Gender-Based Discrimination in Schools (Title IX)

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Trump's Stance: Donald Trump is a strong critic of the expanded interpretation of Title IX by the Biden-Harris administration, which includes protections against discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation. Trump's position reflects a belief that allowing transgender students to use facilities that match their gender identity constitutes a federal overreach and undermines what he sees as the rights of other students, particularly in relation to issues like bathroom usage and sports participation.

In 2020, Trump repealed Obama-era policies that supported these rights, and he has indicated that he would take similar steps if re-elected. The Trump campaign has been vocal about opposing what they call "radical gender ideology" being imposed on schools. In Trump's view, the expansion of Title IX protections is part of an agenda that imposes liberal values at the expense of traditional gender norms and parental rights.

Harris's Stance: Harris has taken a more inclusive approach, expanding protections for LGBTQ+ students under Title IX. She believes that schools should be safe and welcoming environments for all students, regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation. This expanded interpretation aims to foster an environment of respect, reduce bullying, and ensure equal opportunities for all students.

Harris's stance aligns with her broader support of civil rights and anti-discrimination policies. She emphasizes that all students deserve an education free from discrimination and that inclusive policies are essential for the mental health and well-being of marginalized groups. For Harris, the fight for expanded Title IX protections is a continuation of the broader civil rights movement and is about ensuring equity in all aspects of student life, including access to facilities, participation in sports, and educational opportunities.

On School Choice: Parental Empowerment vs. Strengthening Public Education

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Trump's Stance: Trump is a strong advocate for "universal school choice," a policy that would allow parents to decide where their children go to school, whether public, private, charter, or even home-schooling, using public funds. This approach is designed to increase competition and provide more educational opportunities, especially for families dissatisfied with public schools.

Trump also supports a "Parental Bill of Rights," which would provide parents with significant influence over what their children are taught. This includes the direct election of school principals by parents, reflecting a belief that parents know best what is right for their children's education. Trump believes that the presence of tenure protections and teacher unions creates barriers to ensuring that only the best teachers remain in the classroom. Therefore, he wants to abolish teacher tenure for K-12 and implement merit-based pay systems.

Harris's Stance: In contrast, Kamala Harris and the Democratic Party strongly oppose initiatives like school vouchers and private school tax credits, which they argue drain much-needed resources away from the public school system. Harris's vision focuses on strengthening public education for all students and opposes policies that could potentially lead to increased segregation or create disparities between affluent and underprivileged students.

Harris believes that public funds should be invested in improving public schools to ensure equitable education across communities, rather than being used to support private education. She argues that the use of public funds for private schools often leads to discrimination, as many private schools do not accept students with disabilities or may have exclusionary admission practices.

On Early Childhood Education and Support

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Trump's Stance: Trump has expressed skepticism regarding federally funded early education programs like Head Start, which he claims have inefficiencies and issues with quality. His vision focuses on reducing federal involvement, leaving states to develop their own early education programs. Trump believes that by empowering states, education programs will become more adaptable and accountable to the needs of their local communities.

In Project 2025, a blueprint for a potential Republican administration, recommendations were made to eliminate Head Start entirely, alleging it was fraught with “scandal and abuse.” Although funding for the program increased under his administration due to Congressional initiatives, Trump himself pushed for modest cuts.

Harris's Stance: Harris is a strong advocate for early childhood education. As part of her presidential bid in 2019, she proposed a U$300 billion plan to increase teacher salaries and provide greater funding for early education. Though she has not revived this plan during her current campaign, her support for early childhood education remains steadfast.

Harris and the Biden administration have also promoted the expansion of the Child Tax Credit and pushed for universal preschool for 4-year-olds, which Harris views as an essential foundation for future success. She sees investment in early education as a long-term strategy to reduce inequality and help families achieve economic stability, noting that quality early education helps improve outcomes in children’s cognitive and social development.

Book Banning and "Divisive Concepts"

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Trump's Stance: Trump has been an unabashed supporter of banning books and controlling curriculum content related to race, gender, and sexuality. He argues that concepts like Critical Race Theory are divisive and un-American, promoting hatred for the country's history and values. In his proposed education reforms, Trump suggests cutting federal funding to schools that teach "Critical Race Theory, gender ideology, or other inappropriate content."

This push to control school curricula also aligns with broader Republican efforts to pass state laws restricting what teachers can say in the classroom regarding topics like systemic racism and LGBTQ+ issues. Trump established the 1776 Commission in 2020 as an alternative to projects like The New York Times' 1619 Project, which critically examines the role of slavery in American history. He has positioned this as a defense against what he perceives as leftist indoctrination.

Harris's Stance: In contrast, Harris has strongly opposed book bans and censorship in education, framing these efforts as attacks on the freedom to learn. In her address to the American Federation of Teachers, she described such book bans as "extremists attacking the ability to acknowledge our nation’s true and full history."

Harris supports providing a comprehensive education that includes discussions about race, equality, and the struggles of marginalized communities. She sees this as essential for cultivating informed and empathetic citizens who understand the complexities of American society and its history.

College Affordability

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Trump's Stance: On the topic of higher education, Trump has taken a divergent approach from Harris, focusing on reducing costs by offering new alternatives. Instead of forgiving loans, Trump wants to make higher education more affordable by creating innovative alternatives like "The American Academy," an online college that would provide tuition-free courses funded by endowments and penalties imposed on wealthy institutions.

Trump opposes the broad federal student loan forgiveness measures implemented by the Biden administration, arguing that they are unfair to those who have already repaid their debts. His campaign emphasizes that reducing college costs must come from structural changes, rather than what he views as a blanket absolution of debt.

Harris's Stance: Harris supports making college more affordable, backing initiatives like the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) and advocating for community colleges to be tuition-free. She has largely focused on providing federal support for students burdened by debt, emphasizing that nearly five million Americans have benefited from loan forgiveness programs under the Biden-Harris administration, many of them teachers.

She has also been vocal about her belief that education should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their socio-economic background, and that the cost of college should not be an insurmountable barrier for American students seeking higher education.

Image Credit: Kamala Harris from Wikimedia Commons

The contrast between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump's educational policies is stark. Trump’s platform is built around reducing federal control, increasing parental rights, and promoting traditional values in education. Harris, on the other hand, aims to strengthen public schools, expand federal protections for marginalized students, and increase investment in early and higher education to foster equity.

Trump's vision of dismantling federal involvement and Harris's push for more inclusive, federally supported public education underscores the differing views of the role of government in shaping society's future. Voters will need to carefully weigh these differences as they consider what is best for the nation's students, schools, and communities.