This paper criticizes federal involvement in education in recent decades and asserts that control of education must be returned to the localities and parents. The document cites damaging effects of centralized education policy in Washington, D.C., noting a decline in academic standards and federal regulations that are ill-suited to local educational needs. False assumptions underlying advocacy of centralized education policies are reviewed, including the concept that the primary responsibility for dealing with an individual's disability lies with the larger political unit rather than with the family and immediate community. The paper points to the examples of Title I/Chapter 1 of the 1965 Elementary and Secondary Education Act and disability legislation, including P.L. 94-142, the Education For All Handicapped Children Act, as examples of expensive and ineffective federal initiatives. Recommendations include consideration of vouchers and tuition tax credits, repeal of Chapter 1, abolition of the Department of Education, and use of federal funds as the assistance of last resort rather than as a right. (CL)