1. United States
2. Ohio
3. Letter

I am writing to urge you to oppose efforts to dismantle the Department of Education. The administration is using misleading rhetoric—like “returning education to the states”—to obscure the harm these policies will cause to students, especially those in lower-income communities and students with disabilities. The reality is clear: weakening the Department of Education will strip millions of students of critical support and defund essential programs that protect and uplift them. For decades, the Department of Education has played a vital role in ensuring every student—regardless of race, income, or ability—has access to a quality education. It enforces civil rights protections, funds school meal programs, and provides support for students with disabilities through the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. Dismantling it means cutting the lifeline that so many students and families rely on. Congress must act as a check on the executive branch and reject this harmful agenda. No matter who you voted for, these executive actions hurt all of us—our students, educators, and communities. Instead of strengthening education, they create unnecessary division and fear, leaving parents and teachers scrambling to fill the gaps. This is not leadership; it is sabotage. More than 90% of students—and 95% of students with disabilities—attend public schools that rely on Department of Education programs. My own child benefited from a 504 Plan, which gave him the support he needed to thrive. Millions of students with ADHD, anxiety, autism, depression, and other conditions depend on these protections. Eliminating them would be devastating for students and families already fighting to access the resources they need. We must fight back against these reckless policies. I urge you to take a stand and block any attempt to dismantle the Department of Education or defund programs that serve our students. Every child deserves the opportunity to succeed, no matter where they live or how much their family earns. Stop the attacks. Defend our schools. Protect our students.