Coalition Statement on Proposed Executive Order to Close to the Department of Education

On Thursday, March 20, President Donald Trump signed an Executive Order to propose “Closing the Department of Education and Returning Authority to the States.” In response, James Brown, Executive Director of the STEM Education Coalition published the following statement:

“While our Coalition vigorously opposes Executive Action or eventual legislation that would simply do away with the current U.S. Department of Education entirely, we are certainly willing to be a part of a thoughtful conversation about how to improve the Department of Education in ways that will also improve the lives and futures of American students everywhere and from all backgrounds.

Future U.S. prosperity depends on our having the best STEM workforce in the world, supported by a well-educated and scientifically literate nation.  To do that, we need a strong, effective, inclusive, and efficient federal education posture. Our state- and locally-led public schools can’t compete with other nations on their own - that’s a key reason why the U.S. Department of Education exists.”