Our work remains dedicated to supporting Tier II and Tier III students who need additional help to reach grade-level reading proficiency. Our federal government should care deeply about ensuring students get the assistance they need - it matters for economic development, health outcomes, and the future of our democracy. When students struggle to read, their opportunities shrink. But when we invest in evidence-based interventions, we expand access to higher education, workforce readiness, and lifelong success.
Half of the Department of Education’s workforce has been cut, but what’s even more alarming is?who?they’re cutting. Some of the biggest losses? The?Office of Civil Rights?in 7 cities and the?Department of Statistics, the very office responsible for tracking data that ensures accountability and equity in public education. For decades, the federal government’s role in education has been clear:?protecting the students most at risk?of being denied equal opportunity. These cuts undermine that mission. Parents and advocates turn to the regional office of civil rights when they have nowhere else to go. Without them,?there is no clear pathway to enforce laws that protect students' rights. This isn’t just about bureaucracy—it’s about?real impact?on students’ civil rights and the essential programs that expand opportunities for those who need them most. There may be short term budget gains, but the real cost is going to be catastrophic. Our most recent NAEP data did not paint a promising picture of reading outcomes in this country. This is not going to help. Use the Five Calls app to demand that Congress step in. The stakes are too high to stay silent.