State Rep. Owens on federal overreach in schools: 'It’s time to put states in charge and parents in the driver’s seat'

Burgess Owens, a Utah State Representative, has expressed concerns over federal education policy, stating that it has been dominated by bureaucrats aligned with teachers' unions who prioritize power over students' learning. "It's time to put states in charge and parents in the driver's seat," he said in a post on X on March 20.

"The Education Department was born out of a deal between President Carter and the teachers unions," said Owens, United States Representative. "To hand education policy to a class of bureaucrats who care more about their own power than educating children."

According to Magnolia Tribune, the National Education Association and the American Federation of Teachers are accused of prioritizing far-left political agendas over improving student learning. Despite record education spending, teacher satisfaction is reportedly falling, and national test scores in reading and math have dropped to their lowest levels in decades. The unions are said to direct over 90% of their political contributions to Democratic candidates and support causes unrelated to education, such as climate policy, foreign affairs, and social justice activism.

A report indicates that 300 public employees, including teachers, nurses, and law enforcement officers, have chosen to leave their unions due to disagreements with political agendas and perceived ineffectiveness. By opting out, these workers collectively saved $240,000 annually in union dues.

Owens's website describes him as a former NFL player and Super Bowl champion who now represents Utah’s Fourth Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. He is an advocate for faith, family, free markets, and education and serves on both the House Education and the Workforce Committee and the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.