Take Action to Save the U.S. Department of Education!

The past few weeks have seen a steady stream of news about the administration’s plan to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education (USDE). Just released from the Department is a statement with the news that nearly 50% of its staff are being laid off.

This devastating news comes less than a week after Linda McMahon, the newly confirmed Secretary of Education, released a statement describing her vision of the department’s "Final Mission." In it, she describes shifting the responsibilities and funding provided by the USDE to states.

What she fails to acknowledge is that a primary reason the cabinet-level Department of Education was created 45 years ago is that some states had been failing to provide equal protection or opportunities for all students. The USDE ensures that every student, regardless of zip code, family, or ability, has the same opportunity to receive a quality education.

Eliminating the Department would strip our students and families of vital civil rights and protections and further weaken a foundation of our nation’s democracy - public schools. Cutting 50% of the Department's staff will make it impossible for those remaining to adequately fulfill the Department's core responsibilities.

Compliance with Federal Laws. Without the U.S. Department of Education, individual states that are already struggling with staffing and resource issues will be left to monitor and enforce compliance with federal laws. We need the federal Department to continue its critical role of ensuring that federal laws are followed and families have an avenue for recourse when they are not.

Loss of Funding. Without the federal funding, states would have to raise corporate, sales, or property taxes to replace the funds.

Title I Funding provides funds to low-income schools to help bolster educational opportunities in disadvantaged communities. If this funding goes to states as a block grant, it may be distributed at the whim of state politicians

Individual with Disabilities Act funding may go to states with no strings attached. Before IDEA, students with disabilities were often ignored or not given sufficient resources.

Federal Student Loan Programs administered by the Department of Education could be severely disrupted, jeopardizing the higher education opportunities of millions of students.

Data Collection and Research National Center for Education Statistics and Institute of Education Science serve the primary purposes of the original Department of Education, established in 1867—they collect data and conduct research on student achievement to inform educators and policymakers on what’s working and what needs to change.

Help us protect this vital resource! Send a letter to your U.S. Senators and House Representative urging them to support maintaining all of the current responsibilities of the U.S. Department of Education.

Help us support public schools!

Public Schools First NC is a statewide nonpartisan, 501(c)(3) nonprofit focused solely

on pre-K to 12 public education issues. We collaborate with parents, teachers, business and civic leaders, and communities across North Carolina to advocate for one unified system of public education that prepares each child for productive citizenship.

Questions? Contact us today at [email protected]