WASHINGTON — The Trump administration announced plans this week to eliminate the Department of Education, a move that threatens to upend access to education for millions of American children and create chaos around federal school funding.
The Department of Education administers at least $30 billion to support education for kids with disabilities and low-income schools, helps prevent veterans from being predatorily pursued by for-profit schools, and manages federal student aid funding. That’s not to mention workforce development programs, career technical training, and Pell Grants that one-third of undergraduate students rely on to fund college – all of which could be threatened by this move.
The Trump administration’s reckless attack on public education undermines our future and will hit students with disabilities and students from poor backgrounds the hardest. Fortunately, Democrats in the states have already stepped up to strengthen education funding in the absence of leadership in Washington.
Some examples of Democrats in action to address accessibility and affordability in education, in stark contrast to Washington’s dysfunction, include:
- Washington Democrats are pushing to increase public school funding for special education, transportation, and operations by $2 billion, while New Jersey Democrats are also eyeing bolstered funding for special education.
- With their first bill of the session, Connecticut Senate Democrats put forward legislation to increase resources for students, schools, and special education.
- Virginia Democrats proposed a budget that includes bonuses for teachers and funding for more support staff.
- Alaska Democrats are supporting legislation to increase per-pupil public school funding to address historic shortfalls
- Democrats in Washington, New York, and Wisconsin have introduced bills to provide free school meals for students, addressing gaps in accessibility and performance for low-income students.
Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee Interim Communications Director Sam Paisley issued the following statement:
“Dissolving the Department of Education is profoundly shortsighted and will have far-reaching consequences for our children and our future. Every community will feel the effects of shuttering this agency, and it will disproportionately impact low-income students and students with disabilities. In the absence of leadership in Washington, state Democrats must and will continue to prioritize strengthening education systems – from bolstering resources for special education to investing in new facilities and programs for students. As Trump upends the federal government, Democrats in the states are showing the leadership we need and moving our communities forward.”
The Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (DLCC) is the official Democratic Party committee dedicated to winning America’s state legislatures and building state infrastructure. Over the last decade, we have fought cycle-over-cycle to gain a dozen new legislative chamber majorities and we are leading the effort to bring national attention and investment to our ballot level. State legislatures are the building blocks of our democracy and have the closest connections to Americans’ day-to-day lives. From protecting fundamental freedoms and voting rights to growing the middle class, the DLCC and state legislators are moving the Democratic agenda forward and shaping the future of this country.
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