Education Dept. Outsources Jobs to State and Health Agencies

The U. S. Department of Education has begun handing over parts of its work to other federal bodies, a move that aims to reduce the size and reach of the education agency. Two new agreements were announced, each giving a different department specific duties that used to belong to Education. One partnership is with the State Department. It will help universities and private schools report foreign gifts and contracts more accurately. The goal is to make this information easy for national security officials to see, so they can act quickly if needed.The second agreement is with the Department of Health and Human Services. Here, HHS will take on many school‑related programs: emergency response to violence, safety activities, readiness for learning, full‑service community schools, promise neighborhoods, and family engagement centers across the country. These steps are part of a broader plan to bring education power back to state governments. The Department of Education says the changes will make the system run smoother and let local leaders focus on students. The agency has already signed seven similar deals last year, working with Labor, Interior and others. The new agreements continue that trend of sharing responsibilities while keeping education in the public eye.