Long Beach parents and teachers worry about the taking down of the Department of Education

Parents, teachers and the community are worried about how the potential dismantling of the U.S. Department of Education could affect them locally. 

The cabinet-level federal agency distributes money to colleges and schools while managing the federal student loan portfolio. It is also in charge of school civil rights enforcement and overseeing college accreditation.

If eliminated, students in all sectors will be affected. Low-income families with students in grades K-12 could lose school meals, students with disabilities could lack services and accommodations, and teacher training would cease. In higher education, it could affect the distribution of student loans and federal aid.

President Donald Trump has said the Department was too “woke,” and needed to make changes. He wants to eliminate classes on gender identity and structural racism. He also wants to get rid of diversity and inclusion offices and keep transgender athletes out of women’s sports.  

Nubia Flores has a 14-year-old son with intellectual disabilities attending a high school in the Long Beach Unified School District (LBUSD). She said no parent should have to worry about their children’s education because of lack of funding. 

“If a child needs a service, a support or an accommodation based on a disability, the school has to provide that,” she said. “And the Department of Education oversees that. This is all within the guidelines of making sure that students receive the best education, the support and attention in the least restrictive environment.”

Flores said it is “ridiculous” to think Trump considers students’ civil rights enforcement so “woke” that it needs to be removed. Her son is deaf and on the spectrum of autism.

“It’s like saying there's a certain population of our citizens that don't deserve civil rights,” she said.  

In 1964, President Lyndon Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act to prohibit discrimination in public schools and other public facilities based on race, color, sex, religion, or national origin. The Department of Education ensures that schools abide by the rules.

Gerry Morrison, president of the Teachers Association of Long Beach (TALB), said Trump’s proposal to eliminate the Department is another attack on public education. 

“We are very worried because the state doesn't have enough money to fund our schools properly anyway, and now, with these proposed cuts, it's just going to make our public schools even more vulnerable,” he said. 

LBUSD educates about 81,000 students in grades TK-12 in 84 schools serving Long Beach, Lakewood, Carson, Signal Hill and Avalon on Catalina Island. 

Morrison said that the LBUSD receives federal funding for Title 1 classes, special education programs, hiring of teachers in schools with the highest needs and tutoring, among other resources provided.

“If that money disappears, it'll mean that some of those things are going to have to be paid for by general funds,” he said. “Special education classes are not going to go away just because the funding goes, so there's going to be less money to spend on other things, like mental health and after-school programs.”

Morrison and Flores said advocating is their best tool for now. TALB recently participated in a rally where they received the support of Congressman Robert Garcia (D-Long Beach). Flores said she made a call to action to all parents to get involved in Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) groups, School Site Councils (SSC) and watch education board meetings to stay informed. 

Executive order in limbo

Mainstream media reported Thursday that President Trump was expected to sign an executive order that afternoon to dissolve the U.S. Department of Education. While the signing didn’t happen, the Wall Street Journal reported there is already a draft of the order. 

A few days before, on Monday, Linda McMahon was sworn in as the new U.S. Secretary of the Department of Education. The former professional wrestling promoter said she is prepared to lead the Department through the transformatio and embrace the challenge of improving the education system.

"President Trump pledged to make American education the best in the world, return education to the states where it belongs, and free American students from the education bureaucracy through school choice,” she said. “I intend to make good on that promise."

Trump acknowledged that McMahon’s position could be short-lived as she is in charge of dismantling the federal agency. 

Experts indicate it is almost impossible for Trump to dismantle the department because he needs Congress’ approval.