1. United States
2. Wisc.
3. Letter

I am a mother of two school-age children, a teacher, and a proud member of my community in Waukesha, Wisconsin. I am writing to express my strong opposition to the current withholding of federal education funding that impacts schools across our state and nation. The recent decision to withhold over $6 billion in school grants threatens essential programs that directly benefit our students and communities. These funds support critical services including migrant education, before- and after-school programs, services for English language learners, and professional development for educators -- many of which I have been intimately involved with as an educator and know how valuable they are. These cuts disproportionately harm vulnerable student populations who rely on these specialized programs. English language learners, low-income students, and those requiring additional support services will face reduced opportunities at a time when educational equity should be our priority. Eliminating funding for after-school programs removes safe spaces where students receive academic support, enrichment activities, and meals. Our educators also suffer when professional development funding disappears. Well-trained teachers are the foundation of successful schools, and cutting their training resources ultimately diminishes classroom instruction quality. I urge you to advocate for the immediate release of these withheld funds and to oppose any future cuts to education funding. Our children's futures depend on robust federal support for public education. Please use your influence to ensure that Congress fully funds these essential educational programs. Thank you for your consideration of this issue that means so much to me as a mother and teacher. I look forward to your response and your continued support for quality public education.