Make Education Great Again Act
HB2386, titled the “Make Education Great Again Act,” is a broad education-policy bill that frames its purpose as improving student outcomes by shifting authority away from the federal government and toward parents, states, and local communities. Its findings emphasize parental choice, local control, and the view that federal education policy has not improved academic performance. The bill directs the Secretary of Education to take steps consistent with existing law to strengthen parental rights, reduce federal regulatory burdens, and promote school choice options such as education savings accounts, vouchers, and charter schools.
The bill also authorizes the Secretary to review and potentially rescind, revise, or amend federal regulations, guidance, and policies that are seen as limiting parental rights or state and local control. It requires quarterly reporting to Congress on any education funds that are not obligated or expended, including the programs affected and the reasons for reduced spending. The bill includes several rules of construction stating that it does not impose federal mandates on curriculum, standards, assessments, or school policies; does not limit parental rights; does not preempt state or local authority except where federal law already applies; does not authorize new spending; and does not affect homeschooling.
If enacted, HB2386 would affect the administration of federal education programs by giving the Secretary of Education explicit direction to reduce federal involvement, review existing rules, and encourage school choice mechanisms. It would not itself create new education funding, but it would permit the Department of Education to obligate or spend less than appropriated amounts in some circumstances and require regular reporting to Congress on those decisions. The bill would also reinforce statutory and policy protections for homeschooling, parental direction of education, and state and local autonomy over curriculum and school governance.
Based on the bill text and the absence of recorded committee debate or votes, the measure appears to be strongly aligned with conservative and school-choice priorities, especially parental rights, local control, and reduced federal oversight. The framing of the bill suggests support from those who favor decentralization of education policy and skepticism of federal regulation. No formal vote history or transcript record is provided, so there is no documented bipartisan support or opposition in the available materials.
The main points of contention are likely to be the bill’s effort to reduce federal education oversight, its encouragement of school choice programs such as vouchers and education savings accounts, and its authorization for the Secretary to spend less than appropriated amounts. Critics would likely argue that these provisions weaken federal accountability, could reduce support for public education, and shift power away from states or districts with different policy preferences. Supporters would likely defend the bill as restoring parental rights, protecting homeschooling, and limiting federal interference in local education decisions.