Imagine that colleges receive a new rulebook, and not from the federal government. At first glance, the rulebook promises more funding, new standards, and equality for all students. Wrapped, it even looks like a gift, or a beacon of hope in the strict world of education. Yet, once the fancy wrapping paper comes off, the details of a more complicated and complex story are revealed.
The Federal Education Compact offers a simple deal: schools who choose to follow a new set of rules gain an increase in federal funding. That sounds amazing, doesn't it? Yet, when one pays close attention to the regulations and requirements of the mandate, they find that with one misstep, their whole funding could vanish, much like, for example, if your favorite Netflix show was cancelled because a profit margin could not be met. So really, who benefits from the Federal Education Compact?
Large universities with various resources can handle and take on the Compact without uncertainty. Smaller institutions, especially community colleges, may struggle to keep up with their larger competitors, however. This goes to show that once one signs on to the Compact, equality is no longer on the table, and increased funding comes with added strings attached. Unfortunately, the Compact doesn't stop at mandating schools' funding; it reaches into the heart of teaching itself. Now dictating how educators should be hired, and what students are allowed to learn, the Federal Education Compact is rearing its ugly head in our classrooms. Schools cannot consider race, gender, or values when admitting or hiring, which doesn't seem bad at first glance. But upon further examination, one finds that the U.S. government is trying to limit the diversity that makes education so beautiful.
For students, the impact is horrifying. More standardized testing, stricter tuition, and limits on international enrollment are changing the landscape of modern education. The Compact claims to help everyone equally, but in reality, equality isn't about treating everyone fairly, it's about giving everyone what they need in order for them to succeed. Without meaningful support, the Compact risks widening the gap between those with privilege and those without.
In sum, the Federal Education Compact is like an update that promises to fix glitches within the system, but ends up breaking what was once good. Both try to address real issues by adding impossible regulations and rules. Ultimately, education isn't about checking boxes on a college application. Education is about helping new generations grow up with critical thinking skills and fostering mental strength, not threatening those who do not comply with government policies.