Warren Consolidated Schools educators and parents were joined by community leaders Wednesday morning for “walk-in” events to show support for the U.S. Department of Education.
Rallies took place at several schools in the district and were meant to raise awareness of the impact elimination of the U.S. Department of Education would have on local students.
“It’s critical that parents and educators make their voices heard in support of protecting our neighborhood schools and providing every student — no matter their abilities or family’s income — with the opportunity to get a good education,” said Robert Callender, a high school chemistry teacher and president of the Warren Education Association.
Callender said cuts would have a particularly devastating impact on “the most vulnerable” local students.
Michigan received about $461 million in federal funding last year from the U.S. Department of Education to support special education programs serving more than 200,000 students with disabilities. The Macomb Intermediate School District received over $34 million in federal funds to support about 19,000 local students receiving special education services.
Warren Consolidated Schools received about $4.2 million last year in federal Title I funding, which helps educators provide additional support for low-income and at-risk students.
“Dismantling the Department of Education would be devastating for local students with special needs and students from lower-income families, as our schools rely on federal resources to support special education programs, tutoring, school meals and more,” Callender said. “This would cause permanent harm to Warren students, who need and deserve more support — not less.”