Concurrent Resolution; supporting the elimination of the United States Department of Education; urging the United States Congress to fully cooperate with such efforts.

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ENGROSSED HOUSE
CONCURRENT
RESOLUTION NO. 1025 By: Hilbert, Kerbs, Crosswhite
Hader, Cantrell, and
Hasenbeck of the House

and

Pugh of the Senate

A Concurrent Resolution supporting the elimination of
the United States Department of Education and urging
the United States Congress to fully cooperate with
such efforts.

WHEREAS, the Tenth Amendment to the United States Constitution
clearly states that the powers not delegated to the federal
government by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States,
are reserved to the States or to the people; and
WHEREAS, education is not enumerated as a responsibility of the
federal government by the United States Constitution; and
WHEREAS, the creation of the United States Department of
Education in 1980 has led to significant federal overreach in
education through burdensome regulations and one-size-fits-all
mandates; and
WHEREAS, despite substantial increases in education funding,
with the Oklahoma Legislature increasing education-related funding
by nearly seventy-five percent (75%) since 2018, gaps in meeting
educational needs continue to cause Oklahoma students to suffer; and

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WHEREAS, student outcomes in Oklahoma remain alarming, with only
approximately one in four Oklahoma students performing at grade
level in reading or mathematics, indicating that most students are
not proficient in either subject; and
WHEREAS, Oklahoma's low academic outcomes reflect a systemic
pattern of underperformance across grade levels, subject areas, and
student populations, rather than isolated deficiencies in any single
group or measure; and
WHEREAS, Oklahoma's current low educational ranking is not
inevitable, as the state previously performed near the national
average and has declined significantly in recent years while other
states with similar challenges and demographics have improved,
demonstrating that state and local education policies materially
impact student outcomes and that increased local control and
innovation are critical to reversing this decline; and
WHEREAS, national fourth- and eighth-grade reading scores remain
roughly unchanged since the early 1990s when measurements first
began; and
WHEREAS, national student reading scores have been on a decline
since 2019 with approximately forty percent (40%) of fourth graders
reading below a basic reading level based on national standards,
which is the largest percentage since 2002, and one-third (1/3) of
eighth graders having failed to meet national reading benchmarks,
which is the largest percentage ever; and

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WHEREAS, states and local communities possess unique knowledge
of their students' educational needs and are best positioned to
develop the curriculum and policies that reflect their values and
priorities; and
WHEREAS, President Donald J. Trump has publicly expressed a
desire to eliminate the United States Department of Education and
rightfully return primary authority over education to the states;
and
WHEREAS, the elimination of the United States Department of
Education is not only a constitutional necessity and consistent with
the spirit of the Tenth Amendment to the United States Constitution,
but could ensure more efficient use of taxpayer dollars and improve
student outcomes through greater state and local control.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
OF THE 2ND SESSION OF THE 60TH OKLAHOMA LEGISLATURE, THE SENATE
CONCURRING THEREIN:
THAT the Oklahoma House of Representatives and the Oklahoma
State Senate support federal efforts to eliminate the United States
Department of Education and urge the United States Congress to fully
cooperate with these efforts.

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Adopted by the House of Representatives the 21st day of April,
2026.

Presiding Officer of the House
of Representatives

Adopted by the Senate the ___ day of __________, 2026.

Presiding Officer of the Senate