Policy Resolution EDU-26-09

WHEREAS, the National Black Caucus of State Legislators has long upheld the importance of the US Department of Education and believed it has a crucial role in closing the achievement gap many schools face;

WHEREAS, the U.S. Department of Education has long been a critical component to ensuring that all students receive equal access to public education and educational attainment as key indicators of social mobility;

WHEREAS, President Donald J. Trump issued an Executive Order on March 20, 2025, ordering the U.S. Secretary of Education to take all steps necessary to facilitate the closure of the U.S. Department of Education, and the Administration has also impounded $6.2 billion in funding;

WHEREAS, according to a recent PBS News article covering the Federal Government shutdown beginning on October 1, 2025, the Trump administration began the process of laying off 466 U.S. Department of Education staffers, though those efforts have been halted by a judge;

WHEREAS, according to the same PBS News article, those layoffs would cut the agency’s workforce by nearly a fifth and leave it reduced by more than half its size when President Donald J. Trump took office on Jan. 20, 2025;

WHEREAS, access to a high-quality public education is a fundamental right and a cornerstone of American democracy, and the U.S. Department of Education plays a critical role in supporting state and local education systems through funding, research, technical assistance, and the enforcement of civil rights protections for all students;

WHEREAS, Black and other historically marginalized students continue to face systemic disparities, including inequities in school resources, underrepresentation in district leadership, and barriers to advanced coursework, while education policy nationwide is shaped by challenges such as limited student loan repayment options, debates over technology use in classrooms, and the need for sustainable funding for HBCUs;

WHEREAS, the National Black Caucus of State Legislators (NBCSL) passed Resolution EDU-24-24 Supporting Success at Historically Black Colleges and Universities recognizing that HBCUs remain essential institutions for advancing educational and economic opportunity, and that a diverse and representative educator workforce is critical for student success; and

WHEREAS, the National Black Caucus passed Resolution EDU-23-31, Advocating for Honesty in Education, acknowledging that inclusive K–12 curricula reflecting the full history and contributions of Black Americans and other minority communities are essential to a fair education system.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the National Black Caucus of State Legislators (NBCSL) affirms its support for the U.S. Department of Education’s efforts to ensure equitable access to early childhood, K–12, and higher education, protect and expand resources for minority-serving institutions, diversify the educator workforce, and uphold federal guidelines that reflect the needs of all students and communities;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the NBCSL encourages continued collaboration between states and the U.S. Department of Education to develop evidence-based policies that close opportunity gaps, advance equity, and prepare students of all backgrounds for success in an evolving world;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the NBCSL supports the continued existence and strengthening of the U.S. Department of Education to ensure that all schools are supported to give all students an equal chance;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the NBCSL is opposed to the impoundment of any funding that is meant to aid state and local governments directly or indirectly, and believes that funding allocated by Congress should be respected; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that a copy of this resolution be transmitted to the President of the United States, the Vice President of the United States, members of the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate, and other federal and state government officials as appropriate.

• Resolution ID: EDU-26-09
• Submitted by: Del. Jheanelle Wilkins (MD)
• Sponsored by: Del. Jheanelle Wilkins (MD)
• Policy Committee: Education Policy Committee