Can Department of Education withhold accredition if school does not teach evolution?

The Department of Education cannot directly withhold accreditation from a school solely for not teaching evolution. Accreditation is typically handled by regional or national accrediting agencies, not the federal Department of Education. These agencies have their own standards, and while many would expect a scientifically accurate curriculum, there isn't a universal requirement to teach evolution in a specific way.

However, there are indirect ways the federal government might exert influence:

* Funding: Schools receiving federal funding may be subject to certain requirements related to curriculum or scientific accuracy. While a school might not lose accreditation for omitting evolution, it *could* risk losing federal funding if its science curriculum is deemed significantly deficient. This is a complex area with legal battles over the years about the balance between federal funding and local control over curricula.

* State Laws: State laws vary significantly. Some states have laws mandating the teaching of evolution, or at least prohibiting the teaching of creationism as science. Violation of state laws could lead to consequences, including loss of state funding, which could impact a school's overall financial stability and, indirectly, its ability to maintain accreditation.

In short, while the Department of Education itself can't directly pull accreditation, it can influence schools indirectly through funding and federal mandates. The actual impact hinges on state laws and the standards of the accrediting agency involved.