Dear John,

Minnesota has long been a state that supports public education, working to fully fund our schools so our students and teachers have the resources they need to thrive. While the Executive Order to dismantle the Department of Education has yet to drop, President Trump has already taken action to siphon funds from our public schools and withhold funding from schools that teach “divisive topics” or provide gender-affirming care to trans students. These measures not only harm our students, their families, and their educators, but they fundamentally weaken public education, jeopardizing a central pillar of our democracy and our communities.
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While even more threats to our public schools still loom, we aren’t sitting idly on the sidelines. Parents and students are organizing with us to build power in public schools to make sure they deliver what we need and deserve. And we’re not alone. Across the country, our educators, parents, and students alike are showing up and fighting hand-in-hand for the public education system we deserve.

Here's what we're reading, watching, and listening to this week:

1. At McMahon's confirmation hearing, it was the Education Department on trial
Linda McMahon, best known for being CEO of the WWE and little to do with education, began confirmation hearings for her nomination as secretary of education. Confusion riddled much of the hearing, as it remains unclear how dismantling the Department of of Education will will affect things like funding for resources that assist low-income or disabled students. Trump’s administration is also cutting research on education while implementing sweeping changes to our education system. These vast changes will harm our students but, as you can see from this news digest, folks across the country aren’t standing idly by.
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2. How Dismantling the Department of Education Would Harm Students
Despite the Trump Administration's fervor to dismantle the Department of Education (DOE) and proclamations of widespread support, the American people do not support dismantling the DOE and defunding schools. Defunding essential resources for our immigrant, trans, or disabled students and siphoning funds from our public schools with voucher programs only serves to destabilize our most vulnerable and benefit the already grossly wealthy billionaire class.
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3. How Minnesota schools are preparing to protect students from ICE
Donald Trump’s plans to crack down on immigration are reaching our schools, with threats of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) entering classrooms. But, advocates across Minnesota are working to prepare schools with the proper legal and procedural safeguards to stop ICE from entering schools or accessing student information. Schools have already updated or adopted new ICE policies to help teachers navigate the legal hurdles and protect their students. The Trump administration may want to make us afraid, but we’re ready to organize to protect our immigrant friends and neighbors from unjust targeting.
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4. The Chicago Teachers Union Wants to End Student Homelessness & Demand Climate Solutions at the Bargaining Table.
When our unions are strong, our communities are strong. The Chicago Teachers Union, CTU, is utilizing their upcoming contract negotiations in June to drive action on the homelessness crisis among Chicago’s children. There are roughly 20,000 students in the Chicago Public Schools experiencing homelessness or in temporary living situations and CTU’s contract is working to directly address this with a solution, not a band-aid. CTU is also working on updating Chicago’s school campuses to not only be better for the environment but more cost-effective for the city. TakeAction organized with SPFE to bargain for similar advancements for St. Paul public schools and take on the climate crisis.
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5. Michigan leaders blast Trump plans for public education, call for united front
Michigan education leaders are pulling together their ranks to make it clear: the actions of the Trump administration will directly threaten their most vulnerable students and they are prepared to push back. Eliminating the Department of Education won’t just cut vital funding, it will also jeopardize existing protections for students against discrimination. Thankfully unions and advocacy groups, like the ones in Michigan, are fighting back against the flurry of unjust Executive Orders from the Trump White House.
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6. Department of Education investigating MSHSL for policy on transgender athletes
MSHSL is standing by its transgender students and following Minnesota law that allows athletes to compete based on their gender identity despite Donald Trump’s executive orders to pull federal funding from schools that allow transgender athletes to participate. MSHSL is being investigated by the Department of Education because of their stance, but the school is working with Attorney General Keith Ellison to fight for our trans students and challenge the executive orders that are weaponizing our federal government against students.
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7. Worcester leaders vote to become a sanctuary city for trans community
Amidst unprecedented attacks on the freedoms of our transgender neighbors from the Trump administration, local leaders are fighting back. The city of Worcester, Massachusetts has declared itself a sanctuary city for trans and gender nonconforming individuals, protecting their safety, dignity, and freedom.
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8. MFT Announces filing intent to bargain
This week the Minneapolis Federation of Teachers announced at the school board meeting their intent to bargain. More details to come, but their bargaining team is ready to get to work for Minneapolis teachers and students!
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9. Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl Halftime Show Set a Viewership Record
Pulitzer prize winner, 22-time GRAMMY award winner, and activist Kendrick Lamar, also known as Kdot and Mr. Morale has set a new record for Super Bowl Halftime Show viewership earning 133.5 million viewers. The performance, featuring Samuel L Jackson as Uncle Sam, SZA, and Serena Williams, was a stunning medley of visual and lyrical metaphors addressing the intense cultural division facing America.
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10. Black joy, winter wonder: Minnesota Opera performs ‘The Snowy Day’
A new wave of artists in Minnesota? Count us in! Stop by Augsburg University’s Christensen Gallery to experience Nia-Symonne Gayle’s capstone project celebrating Black hair and culture or catch the opera “The Snowy Day” based on the groundbreaking Ezra Jack Keat Book The Snowy Day, directed by Eboni Adams at the Minnesota Opera. Both works promise moving commentaries on the experiences of the Black community and the human experience.
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And that's a wrap!

Send us what you’re reading, watching and listening to.

Until next time,

Mattias Lehman (he/him)
Communications & Narrative Director


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