AAU President Barbara R. Snyder released the following statement regarding the administration's executive order to dismantle Department of Education personnel and programs.
Congress created the Department of Education with an explicit recognition that “education is fundamental to the development of both individual citizens and the progress of the Nation” and that federal education policies at the time had been dispersed across a number of agencies, with suboptimal results. Today, the department’s mission remains more important than ever: to focus on promoting student achievement and preparation for global competitiveness by fostering educational excellence and ensuring educational opportunities for all Americans. We are concerned that the order to dismantle the agency, coupled with recent significant staff layoffs and dissolution of crucial programs, will have a significantly negative impact on educational access and success for our nation’s students. Gutting or dismantling the department could jeopardize accountability for this critical role during a time of increasing global competition – a time when an educated and well-trained workforce is among our greatest national needs. We look forward to working with Congress and the administration to ensure that the federal government continues to fulfill the Department of Education’s key role in administering critical financial aid for students, ensuring that students are safe and their civil rights are protected, and providing crucial educational data and research through the Institute of Education Sciences (IES).
Founded in 1900, the Association of American Universities is composed of America’s leading research universities. AAU’s 71 research universities transform lives through education, research, and innovation.
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