Chapter 8
Federal Interest in Education
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Federalism
•Definition - vertical diffusion of power among three levels of
government
•unitary system—powers in single central government
•state government—unitary
•federal system—powers divided between central government and
its components
•10th Amendment—reserves education to several states
•role and percentage of funds expended by level
state-responsible for education-48.7%
local-agency of state-42.8%
federal-one government-8.5%
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Historical Role of the Federal Government
•historically federal role minor
•federal role - conduct research, disseminate information, advise
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Department of Education
•founded in 1867
collected statistics and facts regarding condition and progress of
education
diffused information
promoted the cause of education
•1939- Department transferred to Federal Security Agency
•1953-Federal Security Agency became Dept. of Health, Education and
Welfare
•1960’s-recommended as a separate department
•1979-created Department of Education with cabinet-level status
•legislation-emphasized primary responsibility for education at state and
local level
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•former presidents’ roles
Washington & Jefferson—universities
Hayes—supplementing educational budgets
Arthur & Truman—federal aid to education
Eisenhower—federal aid for construction
Kennedy—federal aid for construction and teacher
salaries
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Johnson—Great Society program & Elementary and
Secondary Act of 1965
Nixon—opposed to Great Society program
Ford—opposed increased federal aid
Carter—established Department of Education
Reagan—called for elimination of Department of Education
and creation of National Institute for Education
G. Bush—held education summit
Clinton—called for commitment to education
G. W. Bush – No Child Left Behind
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Constitutional Role
•Constitution provides indirect, minor role
•Tenth Amendment-reserved powers
•federal court rulings—indirect legal relationship of federal government to
education
•evolution of federal interest came with perceived needs
•No Child Left Behind Law—response to national need
race and SES—achievement gap
accountability for student achievement
oversight for highly qualified teachers
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Federal Expenditures
•federal budget allocated to education small
•federal government funds approximately 8.5% of education expenses
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Federal Fiscal Advantages and Disadvantages
•federal role begun as advisory and supplementary
•federal government—greatest distance from ongoing process of
education
•graduated taxing system—predominant source of revenue for federal
government
inherent inequities and complexities
•educational personnel lack understanding of federal budgeting of federal
government
•position of federal government needs to be one of neutrality in providing
educational advantages
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distributing federal funds--modus operandi categorical funding
block grant approach to counter imbalance of funding
general aid--general expression of purpose or priority
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Federal Aid in Lieu of Taxes
•federal aid to education --obligatory payments in lieu of taxes for
land owned
•federal government owns land in 1/3 of nation
C
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Increased Governmental Services
•increased services of government due to
complexity of social institutions
economic order
political structure
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The Future of Federal Aid to Education
•involvement of federal government may change
•need for fewer educational agencies
•federal government control over education should not increase
•all levels of government need to share responsibility of education
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