Education Department must hear from you

Dear,

They are at it again. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos and the Trump Administration are gearing up to get rid of rules that prohibit schools from discriminating against students based on sex, race, sexual orientation, national origin, or disability status. 

Tell the Department of Education: we won’t go back.

The Trump Administration is now threatening to repeal, replace, or modify rules that protect the ability of women and girls, LGBTQ students, students of color, students with disabilities, pregnant and parenting students, immigrant students, and student survivors of sexual violence to access equal opportunities in the classroom, in sports, and in student life. 

The good news is that you can submit a comment to the Trump administration right now demanding that they keep civil rights regulations and guidance in place.

Federal civil rights laws protect students from discrimination on the basis of sex (Title IX); race, color and national origin (Title VI); and disability (Americans with Disabilities Act, Rehabilitation Act, and Individuals with Disabilities Education Act). To be effective, however, the federal government must enforce the law, provide oversight, and proactively work to ensure that students’ rights are realized. Current federal regulations and guidance help all students receive the benefit of our civil rights laws and must be protected. 

That’s why you must add your comment today, and defend the civil rights of all students.

Over and over again, the Trump Administration has shown contempt for women’s rights and civil rights. But, if these past few months have shown us anything, it is that collectively, we have the power to stop this unconscionable backsliding when we raise our voices together. We simply cannot accept sexist, racist, ableist, or xenophobic bigotry in our schools. The time to act is now. 

For Equality,

Eleanor Smeal