John,

The route to the American dream goes through our public schools, where educators dedicate themselves to helping every student reach their unique potential. This is the moment we find ourselves in, when public education is in peril—from devastating funding cuts and extremists stoking culture wars, to efforts to divert funding for students and public schools to private voucher programs.

This president has abandoned public school students.

Today at 3 p.m. EDT, I’m taking the stage at TEACH—our biggest professional development conference for educators—in Washington, D.C. I will be talking about these issues and laying out a blueprint for America’s public schools—for safe, welcoming, relevant and engaging public schools for all.

Click here to watch.

Attacks on public education are not new. The difference today is that the attacks are intended to destroy it. And President Donald Trump is trying to hasten its demise with the passage of his big, ugly bill slashing billions from education, Medicaid and food assistance; the administration’s withholding of billions of dollars from public schools; the dismantling of diversity, equity and inclusion programs; the Supreme Court’s acquiescence to Trump on firing thousands of workers from the Department of Education; and the creation of a nationwide voucher program to further drain money from public education.

Americans support public schools and want them strengthened, not defunded or dismantled. Extremists are defunding public schools and attacking the teaching of reason, critical thinking, honest history and pluralism.

Public education is on a precipice, and my speech will address how we can best shape the schools that create opportunity and community for all, not just for some. Click here to watch.

In unity,
Randi Weingarten
AFT President