Press Release: Dismantlement of the U.S. Department of Education
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Missouri Equity Education Partnership Stands Firm Against Efforts to Dismantle the U.S. Department of Education
ST. LOUIS, MO.- [2/5/2025] -The Missouri Equity Education Partnership (MOEEP) strongly opposes President Donald Trump's proposal to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education. The U.S. DOE establishes and implements the nation's academic expectations, entitlement fund management, and research with accountability to ensure exemplary education systems in every state.
The U.S. Department of Education plays a vital role in safeguarding students' rights, upholding Supreme Court rulings, and ensuring that public education resources are distributed equitably. It protects every child's right to attend diverse and inclusive public schools while enforcing laws prohibiting discrimination based on gender, disability, beliefs, socio-economic status, country of origin, or race.
Dr. Amber Benge, Ed.D., co-director of MOEEP, warns against the consequences of dismantling the Department, "Dismantling the U.S. Department of Education would be a devastating step backward. This decision will deeply affect every American, as it threatens student protections, weakens accountability, and endangers academic opportunities for future generations."
For more than six decades, the United States has been a global leader in education, innovation, and economic strength. It ensures that every child has the right to attend school. In 1979, President Jimmy Carter established the Department of Education to enforce the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) of 1965, a landmark law in the fight for educational equity. The 2002 reauthorization of ESEA, known as No Child Left Behind, reinforced national accountability standards, challenged systemic inequities, and worked to close achievement gaps based on race, gender, ability, and socio-economic status. During its implementation, President George W. Bush called on the nation to "challenge the soft bigotry of low expectations."
As an organization committed to equitable access to high-quality education, MOEEP strongly opposes any effort to dismantle the Department of Education or weaken federal oversight of State Education Departments. The Missouri Equity Education Partnership calls on policymakers, educators, and community leaders to reject this attempt to reverse decades of educational access and accountability progress. Now more than ever, we must advocate for policies that protect students, uphold federal education standards, and ensure a strong academic foundation that drives our nation's success.
