To the Editor,

I am expressing my support for Cranston Public Schools and the US Department of Education. I am concerned that some people may not be aware of the funding Rhode Island receives from the DOE.

Gov. Dan McKee’s proposed 2026 budget is counting on $256,479,925 in federal education dollars. (Page 97, 2026 budget)

Most of this money is under local control of individual school districts.

$65 million comes from Title I funds. Title I provides financial assistance to school districts with a high number of students from low-income families. In 2023, a third of Cranston schools received Title I funding.

$60 million comes from the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. In 2023, 15% of students in Cranston received special education.

$11 million funds career and technical education. Cranston schools receive an average of $182,000 annually as partial reimbursement for in-district students attending CTE programs. Our excellent CTE program also attracts out of district students, who pay to attend.

$48 million funds school nutrition. In Cranston, about 39.8% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch.

Our college-bound students also benefit from Pell Grants, other federal student loan programs and programs that help students from lower income families access college, such as Upward Bound and TICO.

Without the Department of Education we can expect larger class sizes, fewer teachers and less support for students. Cuts to the Office for Civil Rights mean students will have nowhere to turn when their rights are violated.

We can all help by supporting our students in public schools. We can stand up for this most democratic of our institutions and the heart of our community by writing to our members of Congress and asking them to vote against any bill to dismantle the Department of Education and by telling our local officials to fully fund the School Committee’s budget request for 2025- 2026.

Jeneane Lunn

Cranston