This resolution expresses strong support for local public K-12 schools and condemns any efforts to defund, weaken, or dismantle the Department of Education.
Adam Schiff
Senator
CA
This resolution expresses strong support for the nation's public K-12 schools and condemns any efforts to defund or dismantle the Department of Education. It affirms the crucial federal role in ensuring equitable funding and support for students, especially those with disabilities and from low-income families. The resolution warns that weakening the Department would severely disrupt vital programs serving millions of students nationwide.
Resolution Backs Public Schools, Condemns Cutting Funds for Special Education and Low-Income Students
This resolution is essentially a formal statement from Congress saying, “We like the Department of Education, and we want it to stay right where it is, doing what it’s doing.” It doesn't create new laws or programs, but it clearly defines the legislature’s position: the federal role in public K-12 education is vital and should not be dismantled or defunded.
The Federal Safety Net for Students
The core of the resolution is a strong affirmation of the Department of Education’s role in ensuring equity across the country’s 100,000 public schools. Think of the Department as the ultimate equalizer, especially for communities that can’t raise enough tax revenue locally. The resolution highlights that the Department manages critical programs like the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), which provides funding and standards for the over 7.5 million students with disabilities. It also manages Title I funding, which sends extra resources to over 51,000 schools with high concentrations of low-income students. For a parent with a child needing special education services, this federal funding ensures their local school can afford the necessary therapists and resources, regardless of the town’s property values.
Protecting the Money Pipeline
This resolution explicitly condemns any action that would cut federal education funding, dismantle the Department of Education, or shift financial responsibility entirely onto state and local governments. Why does this matter to you? Because if the federal government pulls back, those costs don't disappear—they land squarely on state budgets and, eventually, local property taxes. For a public school teacher, the resolution affirms their access to professional development grants (ESEA Title II), which help address ongoing teacher shortages and keep classroom instruction current.
The Stance on Vouchers
One of the clearest political lines drawn in the resolution is its stance against redirecting federal funds away from public schools, specifically mentioning opposition to vouchers for private K-12 schools. The resolution argues that federal investment is essential for public schools to succeed and must be protected. This means that while the resolution supports funding for the vast majority of students in public schools, it takes a clear position against using federal dollars to support private education options. For families considering private options, this resolution signals that federal support will remain concentrated on the public system.