GUEST COLUMN: Protect our kids from harmful education cuts

On March 4, educators, families and students will raise our voices against devastating education cuts. We will call and write legislators and mobilize on social media with a clear message: Should we invest in kids or in tax breaks for billionaires? The Trump Administration’s proposal to cut critical education funding threatens the future of New Mexico’s students by stripping schools of essential resources.

The importance of public education cannot be overstated. It unlocks infinite opportunities for all children. We must stand together to defend and protect Rio Rancho’s children. On March 4, the Rio Rancho community will unite to oppose these harmful cuts and advocate for greater investment in public schools.

Federal education funding helps level the playing field for our most vulnerable students. The administration’s plan to cut or block-grant these funds would be disastrous for 26 million students living in poverty nationwide, including 70,994 in New Mexico. These funds support hiring teachers and school staff, literacy and math programs, and after-school enrichment, ensuring that low-income students receive the same educational opportunities as their wealthier peers. Without these investments, children already struggling due to the pandemic will have even fewer opportunities to succeed.

Rio Rancho students with disabilities would face even greater challenges. The proposed cuts would slash $85 million in New Mexico for special education services, undermining the critical support that 7.5 million students with disabilities rely on. These cuts would limit their potential and deny them a fair and equal education.

Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs provide essential workforce training for future electricians, plumbers, health care professionals and automotive technicians. Cutting federal education funding would deprive 12 million CTE students of the hands-on experience needed to secure good-paying jobs. Eliminating these programs stifles economic growth, weakens job opportunities and disadvantages students in a competitive job market. Additionally, reducing access to financial aid and work-study programs would prevent many working-class students from attending college and improving their futures.

These cuts aren’t just about numbers — they affect real children whose lives will be directly impacted by the Trump Administration’s decisions. Medicaid cuts would also jeopardize the well-being of low-income students, forcing more children to attend school with untreated health issues that hinder their ability to learn.

Every Rio Rancho student will feel the effects of these cuts — fewer educators, overcrowded classrooms and fewer resources for afterschool programs, technology, extracurricular activities, school meals, art and music. This isn’t just a policy issue; it’s a question of whether we value giving every child the opportunity to succeed.

These cuts are being pushed under the guise of efficiency, yet their true purpose is to fund tax breaks for the wealthiest Americans. They will do nothing to lower living costs for families; instead, they will make life harder for students who need support the most.

Join us on March 4 as we come together to fight for our children’s futures. Please write and call your legislators.