President Jesse Hargrove of the Maine Education Association to meet with lawmakers on Capitol Hill as the Education Secretary Nominee testifies before Congress
WASHINGTON—Ahead of the confirmation hearing for U.S. Secretary of Education nominee Linda McMahon, Maine Education Association President Jesse Hargrove will be in Washington to join other local educators, parents, and community leaders on Capitol Hill to advocate for Maine students and their public schools. Hundreds of educators, parents, students, and members of Congress gathered at a rally on Wednesday to lobby members of Congress and stand up for students by fighting against the effort to dismantle the Department of Education, pass universal vouchers and cut vital services Maine students depend on in their public schools.
The rally comes at a pivotal moment, as the Trump administration attempts to advance policies that would eliminate essential support and protections for students, increase class sizes, and divert funds away from Maine schools. Hargrove joins other local advocates and others across the country in speaking out against Executive Orders that will strip resources from vulnerable students, including those with disabilities, and make higher education more expensive for future generations.
Thursday, McMahon is scheduled to appear before the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, the first hurdle in the cabinet nomination process. Hargrove and NEA Director Rebecca Cole are scheduled to meet with Senator Collins.
WHY IT MATTERS TO MAINE:
Students across Maine benefit from programs run by the Department of Education, especially lower-income students in rural, suburban, and urban communities, students who qualify for federal grants or loans to receive career training or attend 2- and 4-year colleges, and students with disabilities. In our community, these proposed cuts would directly affect local schools, impacting funding, educational opportunities, and support systems for students who rely on vital services.
· More than 54,000 students in Maine receive Title I funds from the Department of Education. Maine public schools would lose $65,517,367 in vital funding to hire teachers and other school support staff.
· Losing federal dollars would further exacerbate the educator shortages plaguing Maine public schools, causing students’ class sizes to balloon.
· More than 35,000 students in Maine benefit from special education programs. Special education programs will suffer with the loss of $71,604,202 that go to Maine students. Maine educators and parents expect elected officials to prioritize our students’ futures and strengthen our public schools, so they remain a cornerstone of opportunity and equality.
