The push to eliminate the Department of Education (ED) isn’t just a policy debate—it’s a shift that could deeply affect how children, especially those from minority and Muslim communities, experience public education. While this administration’s argument for decentralizing education and giving power back to state and local school boards may sound appealing to some, the reality is far more complex. Without federal oversight, the door opens for greater bias in school policies, curriculum choices, and even religious influence in public education.
Who Decides What Your Kids Learn?
One of the biggest risks of eliminating the ED is the loss of a uniform national standard for education. Right now, the federal government plays a role in ensuring that schools teach accurate history, uphold religious neutrality, and prevent discrimination. Without this oversight, states would have more freedom to dictate what gets taught in schools, and in conservative-leaning states like Kansas and Missouri, that could mean a curriculum that prioritizes Christian values over a balanced education.
For instance, textbooks and lesson plans could be revised to emphasize Christianity while downplaying other faiths. Already, there are debates over how Islam is portrayed in school materials, with some conservative lawmakers pushing to remove discussions of Islamic history or culture from classrooms altogether. If federal oversight disappears, these decisions would be left entirely to state governments and school boards, many of which are controlled by conservative Christian politicians.
Forced Religious Participation? A Real Concern
Another major concern is prayer and religious practices in public schools. The Establishment Clause of the First Amendment currently prevents schools from forcing students to participate in religious activities. But without the ED overseeing compliance with civil rights laws, some states may reintroduce school-led Christian prayers or Bible study sessions in public schools.
For Muslim families, this could mean:
- Pressure on students to participate in Christian prayers during assemblies or classroom activities.
- Discrimination against Muslim students who request prayer spaces, while Christian prayer remains more widely accepted.
- School-sponsored religious events that exclude or marginalize non-Christian students.
Josh Hawley and other conservative politicians have already expressed support for making Christian values central to public education. This is not just speculation—it’s a clear political agenda that will gain momentum if federal oversight disappears.
State Control: A Double-Edged Sword
Some might argue that eliminating the ED could help Muslim communities by allowing more local control over schools. This could be true in places like Dearborn, MI, where Muslims are a significant part of the school board and could implement policies that protect and support Muslim students.
However, for Muslims living in conservative states, this shift would do the opposite—empowering lawmakers who want to Christianize public education and leaving Muslim families with fewer legal options to fight back. If a school district in Kansas starts implementing prayer requirements or banning hijabs, families would have to fight these battles in state courts instead of relying on federal protections.
Who Benefits from Eliminating the ED?
The move to eliminate the Department of Education primarily benefits conservative Christian lawmakers and those who support a more religiously driven public school system. By reducing federal oversight, they gain more control over curriculum, religious policies, and funding—often at the expense of religious minorities.
If the ED is eliminated:
- States with strong conservative leadership will reshape education in ways that marginalize non-Christian students.
- Muslim families will have fewer protections against discrimination, biased curriculum, and exclusionary policies.
- Access to federal grants and resources for ESL (English as a Second Language) programs, which help many Muslim immigrant families, could be at risk.
The Risks Are Real
Eliminating the Department of Education isn’t just about reducing government bureaucracy—it’s about who gets to control what children learn and experience in public schools. For Muslim families in states with conservative leadership, this means less oversight, more bias, and fewer protections.
Unless state-level protections are actively strengthened, removing the ED would create an education system where religious and ideological biases flourish—leaving Muslim children more vulnerable in public schools than ever before.
Link to CNN article.