How would you feel if you knew your child wasn’t getting the education they deserve? Well, the current administration is taking away billions of dollars that go towards the Department of Education. Those funds go toward programs that help students better themselves and their education. Schools are already facing many problems dealing with money because they have lots of things they need to pay for, such as making sure there are enough materials for teachers and their classrooms. Schools are already being underfunded. We need to stop the president’s administration from causing more money problems for schools. A solution to this problem would be asking those in your community, including yourself, to join a local fundraiser or, more specifically, the Fair Budget Coalition (FBC). Schools already do not have enough for the students as they should, and with the loss of funds, they will have even less than what they do now, making the situation much worse.

K-12 schools are facing many complications with the funds they need to help all kids, especially students with exceptional needs. Our current administration is taking 15% of the Department of Education budget. For example, Education Week talks about how the canceled funds are affecting almost 17 programs in K-12 schools to help train special education teachers. Also, some statewide centers are trying to provide help to students who are blind and deaf, even before the reduction of the funds. This indicates that these funds are extremely important to help children. Without those funds, students may fall behind on work, and their test scores may start to decrease. How much do schools need those funds? These funds are very much needed because they help students and teachers; without them, they will need more than they already do.

A remedy to this vicissitude is joining the FBC. This establishment will help bring awareness to not just this current problem. Children need as many opportunities and resources as they can get their hands on. Kids’ education should not be in jeopardy just because someone thinks the money towards them can go to something not as important as they are. Nobody knows what is best for kids better than themselves and their community. According to FBC, “Families, students, and educators should be active decision makers in any determination of school needs.” This illuminates that schools and families should have a say in what goes in and out of the school’s funding. Not only can fundraisers and the FBC organization help gain money for schools, but also for the workers who may lose their jobs. NPR states “all staff in the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS), with the exception of a handful of top officials and support staff, were cut in Friday’s [reduction in force]. The office is the central nervous system for programs that support students with disabilities.” This elucidates that those funds are very beneficial to help children in need. In other words, those funds do a lot, and without them, the schools may fall apart. To sum this up, a resolution to this pertinent upcoming problem would be to join the FBC organization to help advocate for schools to keep the money that our president is trying to take away from schools during the 2026 school year.

Ultimately, the depletion of the Department of Education’s funds is an immense issue that will cause more problems for students. There already are ways to help prevent those problems from becoming worse and to help schools be prepared, or at least give them a chance to fight back, such as the Fair Budget Coalition. This establishment will help schools bring realization to Congress that this plan should not go through. With that being said, we need to do everything in our power to help eradicate this issue.

Written By:

Violet Hardy


Grade 7


Friendship Southeast Academy PCS


2025