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Charter school founder backs Trump administration push to decentralize K-12 education
Carolyn Sharette, founder of Utah’s American Preparatory Academy, supports the Trump administration’s effort to give states more control over K-12 education funding and reduce federal regulation. She says local schools understand their pupils’ needs and should have more flexibility to meet them.
The administration’s “Returning Education to the States Tour” visited APA’s West Valley City campus on 20 October, its 47th stop in a 50-state tour. The article says federal officials estimate more than $3 trillion has gone into K-12 education over recent decades, while about three in ten pupils reach proficient levels in maths and reading. The Department of Education has introduced a waiver process for states seeking more flexibility; Iowa was the first to take part.
In short
- Utah charter school founder backs shifting education authority to states.
- The administration’s tour reached its 47th stop in Utah.
- Iowa is the first state using a new federal funding flexibility process.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Giving states and local schools more control could let them direct funding towards pupils’ needs and adapt programmes to local circumstances. Supporters may argue that decades of substantial federal spending alongside low proficiency rates justify trying a more flexible approach, with decisions made closer to families and educators.
The case against
Federal rules and funding can help protect consistent educational standards and ensure that pupils in poorer or less-resourced areas are not left behind. Critics may argue that low proficiency rates do not by themselves show that federal involvement is the cause, and that shifting responsibility to states could widen differences in access and outcomes.
Explained simply
K-12 education means schooling from kindergarten through the end of secondary school. In the United States, public schools are funded and governed by a mix of federal, state and local authorities, with states and local districts responsible for many day-to-day decisions.
Carolyn Sharette founded American Preparatory Academy, a charter school network in Utah. Charter schools are publicly funded but generally have more freedom over how they operate than traditional public schools, within rules set by their state.
The debate is about how much influence the federal government should have over school funding and rules. Supporters of giving states and local schools more flexibility say they can respond to pupils’ needs; the question matters because decisions about funding and oversight affect schools across the country.