Becky Pringle on Trump's Plan to Abolish the Department of Education

Proposed Abolition of the Department of Education

• 🎯 President Trump is reportedly preparing an executive order to dissolve the Department of Education, a move he believes will return control of schools to the states.
• ⚠️ Becky Pringle, president of the National Education Association, states this is part of a larger plan, Project 2025, aimed at dismantling the department.

Potential Impacts on Students and Schools

• 📉 Dismantling the department could lead to the elimination of Title I funding, anti-discrimination policies, assistance for low-income students, and free lunch programs.
• 🚫 Pringle warns that federal funds sent to states may not be earmarked for education and could be supplanted, resulting in fewer resources for students.
• 💔 Cuts to services disproportionately affect vulnerable students, including those living in poverty and students with disabilities, impacting their ability to learn.

Role of Federal vs. State Government

• ⚖️ Pringle emphasizes that every level of government has a role in ensuring all students have access to educational opportunities.
• 🏫 The federal government's role, through the Department of Education, is crucial in closing achievement gaps and protecting students' civil rights.

Addressing Test Score Stagnation

• 📊 Pringle argues that stagnant test scores reflect that students with more resources perform better, and reducing funding would be counterproductive.
• 📚 She advocates for increased support for students, including one-on-one assistance, smaller class sizes, and access to technology, based on her 31 years of teaching experience.