National Education Association Rhode Island Executive Director Mary Barden released the following statement in reaction to Donald Trump's reported Executive Order pushing to end the Department of Education:

"Dismantling the Department of Education robs America’s students of the promise of a full and fair education. Students and their families in every Rhode Island community - urban, suburban, and rural alike - will be harmed by Trump and Musk’s wrecking ball. 

"Trump’s action, if successful, will balloon class sizes, gut special education services, diminish job training programs, destroy student civil rights protections, and put higher education further out of reach for families. 

"The Department of Education plays a critical role in ensuring equity in the public schools where we welcome all children to reach their academic and life potential – no matter their race, ZIP code, ability, or immigration status.

"People like Education Secretary Linda McMahon and Donald Trump have starved our public schools of the resources students deserve for years. Educators and parents will not be silent as a handful of anti-public education politicians force our students to pay for billionaires' tax cuts with their futures. 

"On March 19, educators, parents, and community allies gathered across the country - including in Rhode Island - to stand up against Trump’s harmful plan. We are committed to protecting our students and public schools.  And we are just getting started."