FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Feldman Strategies, team@feldmanstrategies.com
AFT Maryland President Sounds the Alarm on Education Department Directive that “puts students at risk and comes at the cost of their education”
MARYLAND — This past week, The Department of Education sent a “Dear Colleague” letter threatening federal funding for educational institutions that include race in decision making on student life – a far-reaching attempt to undermine our educational institutions.
The letter is directed towards all preschool, K-12, postsecondary educational institutions, and state educational agencies that receive federal financial assistance and will assess compliance by February 28, defying federal law that protects schools and colleges from presidents directing curriculum.
Kenya Campbell, President of AFT Maryland released the following statement reacting to the Department of Education’s directive:
“The classroom should be a safe and welcoming place for every student to learn. With public education under a full-out assault from the federal government, this latest move only stokes more division and fear in our classrooms. We cannot meet the needs of every student if we cannot teach the diverse and complex history of every student.
“In a country where there should be no barriers on education, this directive attacks the freedom of every student in Maryland and across the country to learn honest history and threatens the functionality of our public schools. This will impact the students that we teach and the educators we represent across Maryland, whether that is K-12 schools in our most vulnerable communities or in our higher education institutions.
“Fear and division has no place in the classroom. It always puts students at risk and comes at the cost of their education.”
To schedule an interview with AFT President Kenya Campbell, email team@feldmanstrategies.com.
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