United for Students

I believe in a future where systems are designed to support every child of any background to access a good education, be prepared for college, cross the graduation stage, and benefit our nation by contributing their talents. Many of you—like me—were able to experience first-hand the life-changing power of education and go on to dedicate yourselves to paving the path for the next generation. As fellow advocates for justice, our call to action is clear—we must work together to preserve educational opportunities for all students as we confront another senseless challenge: the president is charging forward with severe restrictions on the U.S. Department of Education (ED), announcing a nearly 50% cut of the department’s workforce.

This is one of several recent dire threats to education by the current administration, first defunding ED’s education research efforts; attacking diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts; and targeting students’ right to protest. Last week, advocates sighed in relief after temporarily defeating an attempted ED closure. Yet, as the workforce needed to sustain vital programs and services for students is decimated, this administration is causing irreparable harm to ED’s public servants and the students and families they serve. There is no hiding behind the facade of “government waste” and “inefficiency.” As the mother of children with learning disabilities, I understand that ED is a lifeline for programs serving disabled students. It is also essential to funding underserved schools in low-income communities, advancing students’ civil rights and belonging, making college more affordable through financial aid, providing the data decision-makers need to make informed policies tailored to students, and so much more.

Abolishing the department would accomplish the opposite of the administration’s stated goals and instead lead to costly inefficiencies and a lack of accountability. If the administration truly sought to, “create opportunity and prepare [students] for a rewarding career,” they would not erase decades of progress for first-generation, low-income, Latinx, Black, Asian American, Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, and American Indian/Alaska Native students. They would not be restricting the funding, programs, and opportunities that have been put into place to create an education system that is inclusive, strengthens our democracy, and produces a strong workforce reflective of our nation’s growing diversity.

For advocates like you and I, uplifting students will always remain our true north star. Over these next few years, we will inevitably encounter challenging roadblocks on the path to racial and economic justice, but I ask that you look forward with clarity and unity to overcome these barriers to a student’s civil right to an education. This is a catalyzing moment for California to lead and unify through student-centered higher education coordination. This moment necessitates that leaders nationwide be clear with students and families that no disruption or executive order will undo our collective commitment to justice, college access, and student success. Education and our country are stronger when our systems work together to celebrate the rich diversity of our students and support all students’ ability to achieve their full potential.