Federal School Construction Mandate Poses Serious Risks, New Congressional Analysis Finds

WASHINGTON, D.C. – According to the findings of a new congressional staff analysis on the impact of federal school construction mandates, a massive and unproven federal school construction program would undermine efforts to increase funding for key education priorities, weaken efforts at the state level to fund school construction, dramatically increase the cost of elementary and secondary schools, and significantly expand the size and scope of the federal government. The report was released April 29 by the House Education and Labor Committee’s senior Republican, Rep. Howard P. “Buck” McKeon (R-CA), in advance of a scheduled committee vote on just such a program.

“As this analysis shows, imposition of a federal school construction mandate threatens to do far more harm than good for our nation’s students, teachers, classrooms, and communities,” said McKeon. “Instead of fulfilling existing commitments to our nation’s schools, these misguided school construction directives could diminish support for programs that serve disadvantaged students while driving up construction costs – and all without having a meaningful impact on our educational infrastructure needs.”

The report, “It Doesn’t Add Up: The Dangers of a Federal School Construction Mandate,” explores three key elements of a federal foray into school construction: 1) a historical perspective on state and local responsibility for school construction and federal priorities for elementary and secondary education; 2) the impact of Depression-era Davis-Bacon wage mandates on school construction costs; and 3) an examination of proposals offered by congressional Democrats to create a federal school construction mandate.

“The burdens of a federal school construction program stand in stark contrast with our commitment to promote flexibility and local control in education,” said McKeon. “Just as we reject a one-size-fits-all approach to student academic standards, we must also reject any effort to federalize the building and maintenance of the school facilities that play such an integral role in individual communities across this nation. The federal investment in education must remain focused on ensuring educational opportunity and excellence for all students.”

NOTE: Release of “It Doesn’t Add Up: The Dangers of a Federal School Construction Mandate” comes just as the Education and Labor Committee prepares to vote on legislation that would drastically expand federal control over how schools are built. Republicans plan to offer a series of amendments during consideration of the bill on April 30 to blunt some of the most damaging aspects of the legislation and its harmful consequences for students and schools.

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