The Dismantling of the Department of Education Harms Students
Statement by Superintendent Fabiola Bagula, Ph.D.
November 21, 2025
Public education is the cornerstone of our democracy. It is a promise this nation makes to its children, that no matter who they are, where they come from, they will have access to learning, stability and opportunity. That promise is already complex to uphold under normal circumstances. Today, we are facing the added weight of federal uncertainty that places our students, families, and educators in an untenable position.
Here in San Diego Unified the impact is immediate and direct. We do not know what the future holds for Impact aid, funding that is critical to serving our military connected students and families. We do not know the future of Title funding, resources that ensure fair and equitable educational opportunities for our highest need students. These are lifelines for children.
We are extremely concerned about the lack of communication and clarity regarding how districts are expected to manage daily operations, compliance requirements, and federal resources that our schools rely on every single day. It remains unclear how, or even whether we will be able to draw down federal funding in the long term.
The continued dismantling of the US Department of Education is wrong and deeply destabilizing. It creates significant uncertainty for our school districts across the country and it harms students by undermining and underfunding the very systems designed to support them. We should all be concerned and we should all be demanding clear, immediate answers.
San Diego Unified will continue to advocate for our students, our educators and our community. In times of political volatility, our role is to be steady- to anchor students in belonging, safety, and high-quality learning.