Fight for public education!

As a constituent, I urge you to oppose the administration’s proposal to cut Department of Education funding by 15 percent in FY2026—on top of the $350 million in cuts to student loan programs made by the reconciliation bill passed by the House. The administration also plans to replace existing programs with two block grants: the “K-12 Simplified Funding Program,” a combination of Title I and 18 other programs, and the “Special Education Simplified Funding Program,” composed of all 7 Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) programs. Programs slated for elimination include TRIO, Gear Up, English Language Acquisition, and the Teacher Quality Partnership that addresses teacher shortages by providing deep clinical practice. In theory, block grants give states greater flexibility. In reality, they generally lead to less funding and less accountability for our most vulnerable students. States may also maneuver to shift funds earmarked for such students to voucher schemes that weaken public education and deprive students of legal rights and protections—especially those with special needs. The administration aims to weaken public education even more by funneling an additional $60 million to charter schools—the only increase in the FY2026 education budget. The public schools that educate 9 out of 10 students are the foundation of our democracy. Don’t cripple them with funding cuts or block grants. Please, fight for public education so ALL kids have a quality education!