Dear Editor,
I am writing this letter to express my concern over very possible impacts to the New Canaan Public Schools due to the loss or slowdown of critical federal funding as a result of the Trump administration’s recent cutting of almost 50% of the U.S. Department of Education, and its stated goal of eliminating the Department.
New Canaan’s schools currently receive more than $1 million in federal funding that is used for its high-quality special education, keeping student-to-teacher ratios low, and other important education and vocational purposes. At a time when our state and local governments are required to keep a close eye on taxpayer dollars and act as responsible stewards of our money, this seeming ideological blunt force being imposed by the new federal government on municipalities across the country will indeed have local consequences. In addition to direct federal funding to the New Canaan Public Schools, the Education Department administers Pell Grants, federal student loans, repayment and debt forgiveness programs. If you or someone you know could be affected by the loss of student loans, then this issue is for you.
I urge all of our state and local leaders, regardless of political party, to do the right thing by New Canaan and speak up for the huge benefits that the U.S. Department of Education brings to New Canaan and its families. We need your voice.
Sincerely,
Mary Singh
New Canaan
