Salem, OR – In a strong call to action, superintendents from some of Oregon’s largest school districts are urging residents to raise their voices in opposition to proposed federal budget cuts they warn will have devastating effects on children and families across the state.
The Trump administration’s proposed cuts to social services, including food assistance programs, could drastically affect thousands of Oregon children who rely on school meal programs for their daily nutrition. In addition, school leaders are expressing grave concern over threats to withhold federal funding from public schools, as well as a budget proposal that seeks to eliminate the Head Start program, which provides early childhood education to low-income families.
These cuts, according to the superintendents, would disproportionately harm students from vulnerable communities, exacerbating existing inequalities and creating additional barriers to educational success.
Oregon’s largest districts, including those in Portland, Salem, and Eugene, are urging citizens to advocate for the preservation of these critical programs. They argue that the elimination of food assistance and early childhood education programs could undermine years of progress in addressing poverty and educational disparities.
Portland Public Schools Superintendent Guadalupe Guerrero spoke out on the matter, emphasizing the importance of federal support in ensuring that all students, regardless of their economic background, have access to the resources they need to succeed. “The loss of funding for basic services like school meals and Head Start would not just affect students in the classroom; it would affect their ability to thrive in all areas of life,” Guerrero stated. “We cannot afford to turn back the clock on the progress we’ve made.”
Superintendents are also worried that the proposed funding cuts could force schools to make difficult decisions about layoffs, program reductions, and increased class sizes. These moves would further strain already overburdened school systems, leaving them ill-equipped to support the growing number of students in need of assistance.
Head Start, which serves thousands of children in Oregon, is an early childhood education program that prepares young children from low-income families for kindergarten and beyond. The program also offers essential services like health screenings, nutritional support, and family engagement, all of which play a crucial role in a child’s overall development.
“Head Start is not just a preschool program; it’s a lifeline for many families in Oregon,” said Salem-Keizer Public Schools Superintendent Christie Reinking. “Eliminating this program would have a profound and lasting impact on our community’s most vulnerable children.”
The superintendents’ call to action urges Oregonians to contact their elected officials in Congress to express their opposition to the proposed cuts. They stress the importance of standing together to protect educational opportunities and services that directly benefit the state’s youth.
Local advocacy groups are joining the superintendents’ efforts, organizing rallies and campaigns to mobilize public support. As federal budget negotiations continue, Oregonians are being encouraged to speak up in defense of their children’s future.
“The time to act is now,” said Eugene School District Superintendent Gustavo Balderas. “We cannot wait for these cuts to take effect before we speak out. The lives and futures of our children are at stake.”
The outcome of the ongoing federal budget discussions remains uncertain, but the message from Oregon’s school leaders is clear: standing by while vulnerable children suffer is not an option.
