As a parent and public school special educator in Michigan, I am deeply concerned about the ongoing efforts to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education (ED). The existence of the ED ensures that all students — regardless of race, gender, religion, income, and disability — have access to a free, high-quality public education.
Created in 1979 by Congress, the ED plays a vital role in overseeing civil rights in our public schools and universities. The department also enforces student privacy laws and provides families with an avenue to challenge civil rights and privacy abuses. Thanks to the ED, students with disabilities receive access to critical school-based services including speech-language, occupational, and physical therapies, social work, and educational accommodations to help them participate in the curriculum alongside their non-disabled peers.
Federal grants provided through the ED further allow public schools (especially those in rural or low-income areas) to fund staff salaries, buy supplies, invest in technology, and support tutoring through programs such as Title I reading and math intervention. Additionally, college-age students benefit from federal student aid, grants, and work-study opportunities made possible by the department.
The ED also supports research that guides educators and informs policymakers about effective teaching and global educational standards. Importantly, while the ED and the states influence curriculum, public school curriculum is set at the local district level in Michigan.
Earlier this year, a federal court in Massachusetts issued an injunction to prevent the dismantling of the ED; however, on Monday, July 14, 2025, the Supreme Court allowed this process to move forward while legal challenges continue, putting about 1,400 ED employees at risk of layoff – employees who are crucial for enforcing civil rights laws, supporting special education services, and distributing financial aid.
Eliminating the ED without a comprehensive transition plan would be chaotic and detrimental for students, families, and educators. Many functions of the ED are federally mandated, meaning the Michigan Department of Education would be forced to absorb additional responsibilities and costs at a time when our schools are already grappling with staffing shortages and financial uncertainty.
Public education is a generational promise for the common good. Now, more than ever, we must recommit to protecting our students and schools from political extremists seeking to undermine this fundamental institution.
Cheryl Lyons
Pinckney
