Press Release  Healey-Driscoll Administration Education Officials Issue Statement Condemning Dismantling of U.S. Department of Education

BOSTON — The Healey-Driscoll Administration issued the following statements today in response to Linda McMahon’s confirmation as U.S. Secretary of Education and speech on the “Department's Final Mission”:

Governor Maura Healey:

"Massachusetts is home to the first public school in the United States, and we have the #1 schools in the country. Donald Trump, Elon Musk and Linda McMahon’s plan to dismantle the Department of Education means students and schools would lose out on $2 billion in federal funding for our schools. That means bigger class sizes, fewer reading specialists and support for students with IEPs, less funding for poorer and rural school districts, and an end to after school programs. What Donald Trump, Elon Musk and Linda McMahon are doing is bad for children, bad for schools, and bad for our communities. Congress cannot let this happen."

Secretary of Education Dr. Patrick Tutwiler:

“Linda McMahon and the Trump administration’s ‘mission’ to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education is dangerous and will have devastating impacts in Massachusetts and across the country. The Department plays a critical role in safeguarding equal access to public education through transparency and accountability. Without it, our most vulnerable students will suffer the most, gutting civil rights protections especially for students with disabilities.

“The federal government already does not dictate what is taught in a classroom. Harmful efforts to dismantle the Department will lead to increased class sizes and teacher shortages, higher costs to attend institutions of higher education, putting it out of reach for middle income families, and will affect everyone – from families in urban and rural communities. In Massachusetts, we will continue to fight for every student to have access to a high-quality public education and equitable access to affordable higher education opportunities.”

Higher Education Commissioner Noe Ortega:

“Colleges and universities improve lives and have tremendous benefits for our society. Any efforts that restrict these opportunities are harmful to students and our democracy. The Massachusetts Department of Higher Education remains dedicated to helping everyone access the career and earnings they seek through higher education. Massachusetts’ far-reaching financial aid programs are proof of this administration’s belief that the doors of opportunity should be open for all.” 

Elementary and Secondary Education Acting Commissioner Russell D. Johnston:

“Massachusetts has the strongest public school system in the nation, and it is built on a shared, bipartisan acknowledgement that steadfast investment in public schools is a public good. Significant federal funding is designed to support low-income students and students with disabilities in particular, and federal funds also help improve teacher effectiveness and the quality of education for all students. Removing those supports will harm students, moving our country backward, not forward.” 

Early Education and Care Commissioner Amy Kershaw:

“In communities across Massachusetts, partnerships between early education providers, K-12 schools, and higher education institutions are critical to delivering on the long-term academic success of our students, as well as economic opportunities for their families. Undermining long-standing structures that support access to high-quality learning environments and experiences for all children, especially those with special needs, will have destabilizing and devastating effects for families, communities, and our economy.” 

Massachusetts receives over $2 billion in federal education funding a year. The state is not able to fully replace these funds. The funding helps Massachusetts’ students, educators, schools, campuses, and communities:

• That money is helping low- and middle-income students afford to go to college.
• It gives districts in low-income areas funding to help pay for teacher salaries and benefits, school counselors, and homeless liaisons.
• It supports special education, including paying for assistive technology for students with disabilities, professional development and salaries for special education teachers, paraprofessionals, and reading specialists, as well as transportation to help kids to get the services and programming they need and supports those services, like physical therapy, speech therapy, and social workers. 

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