Closing the U.S. Department of Education undermines decades of progress in civil rights, educational equity, and workforce development. EdTrust-New York affirms this is not just a federal issue – it’s a national one that impacts students in every state, including New York. Without the U.S. Department of Education, we risk returning to an era where inequitable education leaves students who depend on public education behind.
New York must step up. We need both state and federal investments in education and laws to ensure that students of color—including Black, Latinx, Asian American and Pacific Islander, and Native American students—students from low-income backgrounds, multilingual learners, and students with disabilities receive the high-quality education they deserve. The state must strengthen efforts to protect and expand educational access, ensuring all students, regardless of background, can thrive in school and beyond.
Instead of allowing political games to dismantle the education system, New York leaders must focus on solutions that strengthen education and address the real challenges we face such as underfunded schools, teacher shortages, and post-pandemic recovery. We must advocate for reforms that empower all students to succeed, particularly those who are underserved.
As one of the largest and most diverse education systems in the U.S., New York has a critical role in defending equitable educational opportunities for students. In the face of threats to the Department of Education, our state must take a strong, proactive stance in ensuring that students—especially those from traditionally marginalized communities—continue to have access to the high-quality education they deserve.
The Department of Education collects crucial data that informs policies and helps track educational inequities. Without this data, New York risks losing vital insights into where progress is needed. We cannot afford to let gaps in the system go unaddressed. Our state’s longitudinal data system must become even more critical as we face a potential loss of federal oversight. New York must also step up to maintain a strong statewide accountability system, ensuring assessments, graduation standards, and funding allocations remain equitable.
The Department of Education also plays a key role in ensuring civil rights protections are upheld, including for students of color, multilingual learners, and students with disabilities. Without the Department, New York could see a rollback of progress in addressing systemic inequities, leaving our students unprotected from discrimination. Our state must work to protect these rights at the local and state level to safeguard the education of our children.
Without federal oversight, disparities in access to quality education could grow even wider. States may fail to properly distribute resources or address disparities in discipline and special education services. In New York, this could lead to increased segregation in schools and push families into non-public schools, which may not guarantee equitable access for all students. New York must ensure that every student has an equal opportunity to succeed.
Programs like Pell Grants, FAFSA, and student loan forgiveness are lifelines for many of New York’s first-generation college students. Without federal financial aid, these students could be forced to forgo their higher education dreams. The absence of coordinated oversight could also cause confusion and hardship for students managing education debt. New York must push for continued support for these vital programs to ensure all students can access higher education.
The Department of Education has long been the primary regulator of predatory for-profit colleges. Without oversight, students can be easily exploited, burdened with debt and poor-quality education. New York must take action to increase its own regulatory capacity to protect students from these scams.
New York must be a leader in defending equitable education. Rather than dismantling the Department of Education, we need more investment in schools, support for teachers, and a robust recovery from the disruptions of the pandemic. Our students deserve nothing less.