Today, House Education and the Workforce Chairman John Kline (R-MN) and Representative Richard Hanna (R-NY) sent a letter to Gene Dodaro, Comptroller General of the U.S. Government Accountability Office, requesting more information about costly regulatory burdens facing states and school districts across the country.
In the letter, Chairman Kline and Rep. Hanna state:
The regulatory requirements attached to federal education dollars are an important part of informing policymakers and the public how educational goals are being achieved. However, they should not create an undue burden on schools and districts. The recent hearings on this issue have raised significant questions about the aggregate burden placed on states and school districts, and the extent to which the information being collected by the Department of Education is fully utilized. Local educational agencies (LEAs) consistently raised concerns regarding the amount of time and effort needed to comply with federal requirements, noting it diverts resources away from students and classrooms.
Chairman Kline and Rep. Hanna asked the Government Accountability Office to provide information about the most costly and challenging federal regulatory requirements placed on states and school districts. Additionally, the members requested more information about any actions undertaken by the Department of Education to ensure reporting requirements are providing useful data to teachers and school leaders, as well as any of the department’s efforts to alleviate the regulatory burden for school districts by eliminating duplicative requirements.
