NEA President: “Parents and educators are organizing, advocating, and mobilizing to stop Donald Trump and Linda McMahon from hurting students and gutting public education”

WASHINGTON - NEA President Becky Pringle released the following statement reacting to the U.S. Senate’s party-line vote to confirm Linda McMahon as Secretary of Education.  

“Every student - no matter where they live, how much their family earns, or the color of their skin - deserves the opportunity, resources, and support they need to grow into their full brilliance.  

“Linda McMahon has pledged to dismantle public education and take away resources students need by hollowing out the Department of Education, destroying programs that support students with disabilities, making higher education less accessible, and gutting civil rights protections. The Trump administration is working to take away taxpayer dollars from public schools, where 90% of students and 95% of students with disabilities learn, and give them to unaccountable and discriminatory private schools. This means less one-on-one support, fewer learning opportunities and larger class sizes for students. 

“While educators and parents would hope McMahon will reflect upon the enormous responsibility she has to our nation’s students, sadly there is no evidence to believe she will use her position to focus on strengthening public schools so every student can thrive.  

“In every community across this country and in every neighborhood public school, parents and educators are partners in the effort to provide all students with the academic lessons and life skills they need to reach their full potential. McMahon was confirmed on a party-line vote, but parents and educators are organizing, advocating, and mobilizing to stop Donald Trump and Linda McMahon from hurting students and gutting public education to pay for their tax handouts to billionaires.”  

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The National Education Association is the nation’s largest professional employee organization, representingmore than 3 million elementary and secondary teachers, higher education faculty, education support professionals, school administrators, retired educators, students preparing to become teachers, healthcare workers, and public employees. Learn more at www.nea.org