Friday, March 21, 2025

Guest Opinion | United Teachers of Pasadena President Jonathan Gardner: Congress Needs to Step Up and Protect Students

Dismantling the Department of Education, laying off thousands of dedicated Department of Education staff, appointing someone who has never spent a day teaching in a classroom to be our Secretary of Education…these are more than just headlines. They are direct threats to public education and the future of students and families across our community.

The Trump/Musk Administration is betraying public school students and educators. Education is a nonpartisan issue. Students in poverty and students with special needs deserve resources and support in our schools — we can all agree on that.

The Trump/Musk Administration is targeting students and families in our communities with these vicious plans to dismantle public education. It’s unacceptable and we and our state and federal affiliates to our union are fighting back.

We need more resources for special education. This administration is showing us that we can’t trust them to deliver what Pasadena students deserve. We demand that members of Congress do their jobs and step up to protect our students at this critical time. Don’t cut funding for special education students. Work with educators to invest in our students’ futures. Members of Congress need to remember their communities and neighborhood schools and fight to protect public education.

We provide support to special education students in our communities and services to children living in poverty. These are students and families who rely on the Department of Education to provide funding so that they can learn in our public schools.

If Trump/Musk have their way, our district would lose millions in funding to provide these vital services. The Department of Education also helps students and families who receive support to attend college with Pell Grants or federal student loans. These programs are now under threat of being cut. Now is the time to help students dream bigger  — not slash our resources and force more students to let go of their academic goals.

In Pasadena and across the nation, we’re going to fight back  — it’s what union educators do. We won’t accept any cuts that harm our students. At a time when the wealthy few are making BILLIONS and not paying their fair share while cutting critical funds for public schools, we must act now.

Jonathan Gardner is President of the United Teachers of Pasadena