Project 2025 Puts Public Education and Civil Rights at Risk

Project 2025 threatens to dismantle critical federal oversight in education, which could have devastating consequences for civil rights protections, especially for minority, disabled, and disadvantaged students. Laws like the Civil Rights Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act are essential safeguards that ensure all students, regardless of race, disability, or socio-economic status, have equal access to quality education. These federal protections set a uniform standard that requires states to uphold fairness and equality, ensuring that no student faces discrimination or unequal treatment.

If the federal government steps back, states may not prioritize these protections with the same urgency or consistency. In regions with limited resources or political will to address civil rights issues, vulnerable groups—particularly minority students and those with disabilities—are at heightened risk of facing educational disparities. For example, without federal oversight, disparities like disproportionate suspensions and expulsions for students of color could worsen. Similarly, the opportunity gap for academically gifted students could widen, as local decisions may favor some students over others, further marginalizing minority populations.

The removal of federal oversight also reduces the incentive for states and school districts to adopt inclusive practices that benefit all students. This could lead to a decline in resources for special education, inadequate support for English language learners, and the perpetuation of biases within school curricula and disciplinary policies. In some districts, local authorities may even implement discriminatory policies, either overtly or through a failure to address the specific needs of disadvantaged students.

The erosion of civil rights protections under Project 2025 jeopardizes the very equity and quality that our education system was designed to uphold. Without federal oversight, we risk deepening the gaps in educational opportunities and outcomes, leaving vulnerable students further behind and compromising the future of public education. We cannot afford to roll back the protections that ensure every child, no matter their background, has a fair shot at success.