This is the only part of your post that I take issue with. I don't accept that Congress should be spending money on what is historically a state matter. In fact, such is not authorized by the Constitution.
I take issue with the concept of your not accepting Congress spending the money. What the heck does that mean? They are going to spend money on education. That is the political mindset of the nation. I don't like it, you don't like it. So what? What is either of us going to do to change it? Pounding your head against a brick wall badly damages your head and doesn't hurt the wall at all.
An annual debate over whether the Feds should spend 8 billion or 10 billion changes nothing and serves little purpose. Either way too much money gets spent for too little measurable gain and each year more will be spent. At least if you introduce measures which create accountability it creates an environment where the funds can be directed toward measurable gain. Those areas, and they are many, where money is being wasted or misappropriated stand at least some chance of being identified.
I have a serious problem with conservatives who start and end their argument with, "It's wrong and we shouldn't be doing it." If it is wrong, then identify actions that will start the corrective process. Myself, I think the president has slipped items into the education bill which will slow the momentum of free wheeling spending , create some accountability and with time give us an opportunity to turn things around.