Dozens of local education leaders, parents, and students participated in a nationwide walk-in Wednesday aimed at opposing efforts to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education.One walk-in took place at the J. Graham Brown School in downtown Louisville led by the Jefferson County Teachers Association.The walk-in, part of a National Day of Action led by the National Education Association, is a response to President Donald Trump’s push to cut federal education funding. The cuts have been leading up to a planned dismantling of the department, with Trump saying he wants to return control of education to the states. Read more on Trump’s cuts in the stories below:Advocates warn that these cuts would severely impact lower-income students. JCTA President Maddie Shepard highlighted that 19% of JCPS’s budget comes from federal funding, while some districts across Kentucky rely on federal funds for up to half their budgets. “I don’t know how they would survive,” said Shepard. “The only other tax revenue sources are local taxes and state taxes and so for a lot of districts, there isn’t the revenue for the state and county to raise the revenue so we depend on it from the national government.”Programs like Title I for students in poverty, special education funding, and lunch programs are at stake, potentially risking nearly $500 million for Kentucky schools.Advocates stressed the importance of protecting public education, with passionate voices like Kentucky PTA President-Elect and parent Autumn Neagle saying, “Our schools, our children, our future are in danger.” The rally highlighted the urgency of preserving federal backing, with chants of “Protect public schools” resonating throughout the event. Advocates fear the removal of federal support will disproportionately harm underserved and vulnerable students.Jefferson County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Marty Pollio emphasized, “Title I, which is considered to be, supporting students in poverty all across the nation, not just cities, but rural as well, food service that, the lunch programs that we give to students and then IDEA, which is funds for special education students.”Shepard urged the community to contact lawmakers to express their concerns.
Dozens of local education leaders, parents, and students participated in a nationwide walk-in Wednesday aimed at opposing efforts to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education.
One walk-in took place at the J. Graham Brown School in downtown Louisville led by the Jefferson County Teachers Association.
The walk-in, part of a National Day of Action led by the National Education Association, is a response to President Donald Trump’s push to cut federal education funding.
The cuts have been leading up to a planned dismantling of the department, with Trump saying he wants to return control of education to the states.
Read more on Trump’s cuts in the stories below:
Advocates warn that these cuts would severely impact lower-income students.
JCTA President Maddie Shepard highlighted that 19% of JCPS’s budget comes from federal funding, while some districts across Kentucky rely on federal funds for up to half their budgets.
“I don’t know how they would survive,” said Shepard. “The only other tax revenue sources are local taxes and state taxes and so for a lot of districts, there isn’t the revenue for the state and county to raise the revenue so we depend on it from the national government.”
Programs like Title I for students in poverty, special education funding, and lunch programs are at stake, potentially risking nearly $500 million for Kentucky schools.
Advocates stressed the importance of protecting public education, with passionate voices like Kentucky PTA President-Elect and parent Autumn Neagle saying, “Our schools, our children, our future are in danger.”
The rally highlighted the urgency of preserving federal backing, with chants of “Protect public schools” resonating throughout the event.
Advocates fear the removal of federal support will disproportionately harm underserved and vulnerable students.
Jefferson County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Marty Pollio emphasized, “Title I, which is considered to be, supporting students in poverty all across the nation, not just cities, but rural as well, food service that, the lunch programs that we give to students and then IDEA, which is funds for special education students.”
Shepard urged the community to contact lawmakers to express their concerns.