“Public schools and the U.S. Department of Education (U.S. DOE) exist because every child, in every state and neighborhood, has the right to a world-class public education that inspires them and allows them to grow and succeed.
“All students benefit from programs run by the U.S. Department of Education, especially lower-income students and their families in rural, suburban, and urban communities, students and families who qualify for federal grants or loans to receive career training or attend 2- and 4-year colleges, and students with disabilities.
“Mass layoffs at the U.S. Department of Education directly hurt our students and our communities.
“This strips away the ability for educators to support children through Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), cuts off vital resources that help students experiencing homelessness, further disadvantages students living in rural areas, restrict access to higher education opportunities, and so much more.
“As a child with dyslexia, I had an IEP that provided the support I needed to succeed in school and in life. That program, made possible by the Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act (IDEA) and executed by the U.S. Department of Education, changed my life—just as it continues to do for countless others.
“Today, more than 1.4 million students — representing 50% of the state’s student population — rely on Florida’s Title I programs that provide reading specialists and smaller class sizes for students in poverty. Additionally, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) provides critical services and support that students with disabilities need and deserve. More than 400,000 students in Florida participate in IDEA programs and, without it, special education grants, grants for families and infants, and special education preschool grants could disappear, leaving the students who need it most without essential assistance.
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CONTACT: FEA Press, feapress@floridaea.org, (850) 201-3223
The Florida Education Association is the state’s largest association of professional employees, with 120,000 members. FEA represents PreK-12 teachers, higher education faculty, educational staff professionals, students at our colleges and universities preparing to become teachers and retired education employees.
