WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Independent Women, a nonprofit organization dedicated to developing and advancing policies that actually enhance opportunity and well-being, and committed not only to moving the needle with women but to making a difference on the issues that will move America, applauds President Trump’s executive order to decentralize the U.S. Department of Education.

Independent Women chapter leaders, policy experts, parents, and educators will join President Trump for the signing of this monumental executive order that puts students first and restores power to parents—giving them more control and better options when it comes to their children’s education. 

Independent Women leaders poised to stand with President Trump today in support of this historic executive order include:

  • Neeraja Deshpande, Independent Women policy analyst and engagement coordinator who previously taught middle school and high school math, English, and financial literacy
  • Dr. Keri D. Ingraham, a senior fellow at Independent Women and director of the Discovery Institute’s American Center for Transforming Education;
  • Stephanie Lundquist-Arora, an Independent Women’s Network chapter leader, author, and mother in Fairfax County, Virginia who has been fighting the uphill battle against woke school administrators and school board members; 
  • Heather Hunter, Independent Women’s Network member who champions home schooling and individualized education for children; and
  • Virginia (Ginny) Gentles, a senior fellow with the Education Freedom Center at Independent Women’s Forum and director of the Education Freedom and Parental Rights Initiative at the Defense of Freedom Institute

Neeraja Deshpande said: “Returning education to the states and cutting out the middleman that was getting in the way of schools, administrators, and teachers will ultimately be in the best interests of American education.”

Dr. Keri D. Ingraham said, “I’m extremely honored by President Trump’s invitation to the White House for the signing ceremony of this executive order. With today’s executive order, President Trump is delivering on his promise to the American people to dismantle the ineffective and bureaucracy-ridden U.S. Department of Education and return education to the states where it rightfully belongs. It is a historic day in our nation that takes us one step closer to the goal of education freedom for all families nationwide.”

Stephanie Lundquist-Arora said: “I am honored to be attending this historic event at the White House to witness President Trump sign the executive order to direct the elimination of the Department of Education. Given the shockingly poor performance of America’s children on their standardized tests, all future public education decisions should be made with student outcomes as the priority. The Department of Education does nothing to improve students’ academic outcomes and has been completely captured by teachers unions pushing a leftist agenda. Its dissolution can’t come soon enough. The minimal functions that the bloated bureaucracy performs to serve our nation’s children can be moved to other departments.”

Lundquist-Arora made headlines just this week when she joined Fox News’ Ingraham Angle to expose her son’s high school — West Springfield High School in Fairfax County, Virginia — for allowing a wall display that promoted a display called “The ABCs to ME” promoting transgenderism and other woke ideology during Women’s History Month. Lundquist-Arora’s three young sons will stand proudly beside their mother at the executive order signing—a powerful picture of how Independent Women Network chapter leaders advocate for their children. 

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING AT INDEPENDENT WOMEN:

Carrie Lukas, President of Independent Women, said: “Parents and teachers across the country should celebrate the end of all the federal red tape and meddling from the Department of Education in what is fundamentally a state and local issue. For decades the Department of Education has grown and consumed more and more tax dollars while student achievement and the safety in our schools and classrooms have deteriorated. It’s past time for meaningful reform to empower parents and localities to give students the opportunities they deserve.”

Beth Parlato, senior legal advisor for Independent Women, said: “”The federal government has been ineffective in improving national education outcomes despite its growing involvement. The Department of Education adds layers of bureaucracy which has led to inefficiency and wasted resources. Decentralizing education is the first step towards significant cost savings and efficiency, while respecting the constitutional principle of federalism.” 

Inez Stepman, Independent Women senior legal analyst, said: “Starting the process to shutting down the Department of Education is the beginning of the end of an error. Since the Department was created in 1979, it has contributed nothing to student learning or an educated citizenry, and too often it has been a deterrent to teaching and learning or a base camp for leftwing activism from unelected bureaucrats. The big sum of money that paid these bureaucrats their six-figure salaries will now flow back to state education systems, where it can be used for what the American people think of as education: for students, teachers, and classrooms.” 

More from Independent Women on U.S. Department of Education:

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