With schools facing increased costs from inflation and a growing educator shortage, it is imperative these federal resources are not taken away in future negotiations on spending caps. Indeed, we urge the president not only to defend these investments in Pre-K–12 programs, but to increase funding to, in his own words, “finish the job.”

“As a child, we sometimes struggled financially and were always moving, but I had this very cool teacher, Mr. Madigan, who saw something in me and met with my mom and encouraged her not to move again, for the sake of my achievement.”