The threats to federal education programs have become acute. Funds for PELL grants, title I and disability programs are at risk in the Trump/Musk Administration. The proposed termination of the Dept of Education will weaken other school programs. Though organizations representing teachers and educators, including NEA, AFT and AAUP, have come together to resist the proposed cuts, it remains difficult to reach parents, who generally lack statewide organizations. Their local school district organizations rarely address the federal budget. Following up on our earlier Oct 26, 2024 Conference we will be gathering on Saturday May 24th, 2:00 – 5:00 pm to explore paths to protect the federal budget supporting public schools, and continuing to reach out to parents. grandparents, students and teachers.
Agenda:
2:05: Panel 1- The Emerging Federal Public Education Budget
- Chair – Prof. Jonathan King (MIT & Mass Peace Action Education Fund)
- Civilian Versus Pentagon Budget Allocations – Deborah Weinstein (Coalition for Human Needs)
- Impacts on the Young – Denisha Jones (Defending the Early Years)
- Impacts on Graduate Students – Evan MacKay (Harvard UAW Local 5118).
2:45: Panel 2 – Choices in Federal and State Budgets
- Chair- Deb McCarthy (V-P, Mass Teachers Assocation)
- Tax Cuts and Related Fallacies – Karen Dolan (Institute for Policy Studies)
- Roles for State Legislatures – Rep. Mike Connolly (Mass State Legislature)
- Minds Not Missiles – Defunding the Sentinel ICBM Program – David Borris (Chicago Area Peace Action)
- Cutting Funds for Foreign Wars – Merrie Najimy (Past MTA President, MTA Rank & File for Palestine).
3:45 Break
4:00 – Closing Panel: Fighting Back
- Chair: Vatsady Sivongxay (Massachusetts Education Justice Alliance)
- Pressing Elected Officials – Max Page (Pres. Of Mass Teachers Association)
- Organizing Low Wealth Constituencies – Shailly Barnes (Kairos Institute & Poor Peoples Campaign)
- Leading Role of Union Educators – Jessica Tang (Pres. of AFT Mass)
- Actions today - Cole Harrison (Mass Peace Action).