😡 Trump administration cancels Head Start for immigrant students: This week, RFK Jr’s Department of Health and Human Services announced it will ban undocumented immigrants from enrolling in Head Start, a federally funded preschool program which primarily benefits families in low-income communities. 

Requiring proof of immigration status would likely create fear and confusion among families seeking to enroll their children, said Yasmina Vinci, executive director of the National Head Start Association. “This decision undermines the fundamental commitment that the country has made to children and disregards decades of evidence that Head Start is essential to our collective future,” Vinci said.

📣 Arizona Senator Mark Kelly & Congressman Greg Stanton demand release of $118M in federal funding for AZ K-12 schools: The joint letter asks for the funds – which were supposed to be distributed July 1 – to be disbursed immediately. 

The letter to U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon and Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought details $4.2 million in lost funding for Mesa Public Schools and an 11% cut to the state’s overall federal education funding.

As we reported last week, public schools have been thrown into chaos and uncertainty this week after President Trump’s US Department of Education refused to allocate $6.2 billion for programs supporting underserved children. The agency was due to release these funds to schools on July 1st. With many Arizona schools starting classes in the next few weeks, this unprecedented move is making planning difficult — if not impossible — for school leaders across our state. 

Arizona schools are set to lose nearly $120 million, according to the Learning Policy Institute. These proposed cuts will have significant and disproportionate impacts on Arizona’s public schools, which serve many low-income students, migrant students, and students learning English. These funds are critically needed for before- and after-school programs, hiring teachers, and ensuring quality learning supports for all students. See the breakdown of the withheld K-12 funding across five targeted programs.

From Page to Power: A Justice-Focused Book Club by Save Our Schools Arizona Network! Join us virtually on Sunday, July 13 and August 10 from 3:00-4:00 pm over Zoom to discuss our next read Cultivating Genius: An Equity Framework for Culturally and Historically Responsive Literacy by Dr. Gholdy Muhammad! No pressure to finish the book—come for the conversation. Let’s read, reflect, and build power for Arizona’s public schools! Sign up to get the zoom info!

Help Voters on Wednesdays all Summer! Want to help voters who are at risk of being kicked off the voter rolls? Join us for a virtual phone bank every Wednesday from 4-5:30 pm and help voters get re-registered! Training is provided — all experience levels are welcome!

Join our Deep Canvassing Team! Learn all about deep canvassing and how to have meaningful conversations with swing voters. Deep canvassing focuses on listening and connecting with voters to understand their concerns, questions and perspectives on public education. Our Knock & Talk Deep Canvasses are off and running! Sign up for one of our interactive virtual trainings so you can be part of this incredible team of changemakers.

Get to Know Like-Minded Neighbors! Get the latest education news at the local, state and national levels alongside other public school supporters in your community! Regional virtual Community Action Team (CAT) Chats occur regularly. Check out our events page to find one in your region!

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