The following statement can be attributed to Chris Mohr, President, Software & Information Industry Association.
Today’s Executive Order requiring Secretary Linda McMahon to take steps to facilitate the closure of the U.S. Department of Education is extremely concerning. Importantly, Congress will need to take action to rewrite many laws, passed with broad bipartisan support, to facilitate such closure. Today’s action does not close the Department.
The Department was established in part to make government more efficient – to provide a “one stop shop” for federal funding and guidance to support state and local educators. In the years since, the Department has been instrumental in convening experts and providing guidance on student privacy and the effective use of artificial intelligence to support human flourishing. The Department’s centralized support for education research has helped our ed tech members innovate, and that innovation, in teaching and learning, both prepares students for the future workforce and boosts our national competitiveness.
The education technology industry is pro-innovation and pro-efficiency. As the federal government considers shuttering the Department, it is important for Congress to ensure that the good work done by the Department to support our communities across the country does not disappear.
We look forward to working with the Administration and the bipartisan leaders in Congress to identify the best path to support the needs of state and local educators and learners across the nation.
