Our Statement on Drastic Cuts to the U.S. Department of Education

Educational equity is at the heart of the fight for civil rights in the United States. The federal Department of Education has played a key role in closing achievement and opportunity gaps faced by children in every state in this country. This is especially true for the children we advocate for at Massachusetts Advocates for Children—children living in poverty, children with disabilities, immigrant learners, and Black and Brown youth.  

The news that half of the staff of the federal Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights has been fired and the closure of many offices—including the Boston office—will harm education as we know it. This unprecedented dismantling of the Department’s enforcement capacity will harm countless children, erode critical legal protections, undermine decades of progress in civil rights that benefit everyone, and will lead to a rise in systemic inequities. The Office for Civil Rights is essential to ensure that the promise of equal educational opportunity for low-income children, children with disabilities, children of color, and children of all gender identities and expressions.   

Dismantling of the federal Office for Civil Rights is not acceptable, and advocacy will continue. MAC’s 50 year history has taught us that the journey to education justice, to equity, and to freedom is long.    

And so today, our message for our community of families and children is simple. We will not give up. MAC remains steadfast in our mission, working to remove educational barriers and ensure that the services, opportunities, and protections guaranteed by law are available to all children, especially those who have been marginalized over the course of history. And we know how many people are in this work beside us. Advocates, lawyers, and elected officials will stand strong for education as they already are in the legal challenge filed to the action taken this week.  

There is no doubt there will be uncharted and seemingly impossible decisions ahead for everyone who cares about educational civil rights. But as long as there are children in school, as long as there is one student that needs our help, or one law that needs enforcement, or one change in policy necessary to provide equity, MAC is here. Our work may be more urgent, but our commitment is unwavering. At this very moment, MAC is advocating for a new state law to protect equal access to education, working with immigrant communities to provide support and combat disinformation, and responding to the many parents and caregivers in need calling our Helpline. The road ahead is long, and MAC wants all children and families to know that you are not alone.