MA Parents Slam Trump’s Planned Executive Order to Dismantle the Education Department
Unconstitutional order favors Trump’s billionaire cronies over public school students
BOSTON – Parents who advocate with the Massachusetts Education Justice Alliance - Education Fund today slammed President Trump’s planned executive order to dismantle the Education Department as an unconstitutional overreach of power that aims to harm vulnerable students and enable the privatization of public schools.
“This unconstitutional action is just Trump’s latest attempt to enrich his billionaire buddies — this time, at the expense of public school students and our families. Once again, billionaires win, and working families lose,” said Vatsady Sivongxay, a public school parent and Executive Director of the Massachusetts Education Justice Alliance - Education Fund. “His order would overturn vital civil rights protections that ensure all students receive equal opportunity, threaten the student loans that enable us to pursue higher education, remove critical safeguards for students with disabilities, and usher in a new era of public school privatization by Trump’s billionaire allies. The truth is that Trump doesn’t have the power to do this on his own. We’re demanding that Congress stand up and protect our public schools and students by rejecting Trump’s plan and preventing any cuts to public education in the federal budget.”
“My son has autism and needs extra support to learn alongside his fellow students. Right now, federal law protects his right to a quality public education,” said Heather Stanek, whose son attends public school in Worcester. “I'm scared that Trump and his allies will take those protections away so they can keep lining their pockets by privatizing our public schools, without worrying about how to educate students who need extra help. We need our elected officials to stand up for students and fight this unlawful action, so all students can get the high-quality public education they deserve.”
###
The Massachusetts Education Justice Alliance - Education Fund is made up of Massachusetts students, parents, educators, school and college staff, and education advocates with a shared vision: that all students, regardless of income, race, gender, identity, religion, birthplace, or abilities, have access to high-quality, equitable, and democratically controlled public education that addresses the educational needs of the whole student and where every student thrives to reach their full potential. Learn more at massedjustice.org.