Your Schools. Your Kids. Your Voice.

Imagine a fifth-grade student in Moneta, struggling to read but finally catching up thanks to a federally funded tutoring program. Picture a single parent in Rustburg breathing easier knowing their child with autism gets the specialized support they need—paid for by federal grants. Or think of a William Campbell High School senior, the first in her family to go to college, whose dreams are possible only because of Pell Grants.

These stories aren’t hypothetical. They’re real-life examples of how the U.S. Department of Education uplifts students and families right here at home Virginia’s District 51. But today President Trump signed into action legislation aiming to take those resources away from our students here at home. If he succeeds, the consequences for our community would be devastating. Here’s what’s at stake—and why your vote and voice matters.

What the Federal DOE Does for District 51

1. Funds Our Schools

The DOE isn’t a bureaucracy—it’s a lifeline. Last year alone, Virginia schools received:

• $283 million in Title I grants for high-poverty schools (like many in District 51).

• $393 million for special education (IDEA), ensuring students with disabilities get the tools they need to thrive.

• $50 million for school meals, feeding kids who might otherwise go hungry.

Without this money, class sizes balloon, support vanishes, and staff are laid off.

2. Protects Civil Rights

The DOE enforces laws that guarantee:

• Equal access for students with disabilities.

• Protections against discrimination based on race, gender, or LGBTQ+ status.

• Accountability for schools that fail marginalized students.

No federal oversight means no backstop for families fighting for fairness.

3. Makes College Possible

Over 150,000 Virginians rely on Pell Grants to afford higher education. If the ED disappears, so could this critical aid—slamming shut the door to opportunity for working-class families.

4. Keeps Our Kids Safe

After COVID, the ED delivered $2.1 billion to Virginia schools for mental health counselors, air filtration systems, and summer learning programs. Without federal crisis support, our schools are on their own when disaster strikes.

What Happens if the DOE is Dissolved?

1. Local Taxes Will Soar

Virginia would need to replace $1 billion+ in annual federal education funding. Guess who pays? You.

2. Inequality Will Explode

Wealthy districts like Fairfax could plug gaps. But schools in Bedford, Campbell or Altavista? They’d face brutal cuts:

• Special education services gutted.

• After-school programs and sports canceled.

• Teachers layoffs.

3. Vulnerable Kids Lose Most

Low-income students, English learners, and children with disabilities rely on federal safeguards. The DOE is the only protection students that ensure all students are entitled equal education. Remember the term "school choice" does not relfect the parents ability to chose a school for their children. School choice enables private schools to chose which students they educate based on things like income, race, gender or religion.

4. College Becomes a Luxury

If Pell Grants vanish, even bright students at Staunton River or William Campbell might skip college—or spend decades drowning in debt.

This Isn’t hypothetical. It’s a Choice.

Politicians pushing to abolish the DOE say it’s about “local control.” But let’s be clear: Dissolving the DOE doesn’t give power to parents—it passes the buck to states already scrambling to fund our communities without raising our taxes. Our schools and families can’t afford that gamble.

Schools are the life source of communities and our teachers should be treated like public heroes not public enemies.

SPEAK OUT NOW.