Skye Perryman, President and CEO of Democracy Forward.

Yesterday, Democracy Forward, announced that it has filed the first lawsuit to challenge Trump’s Executive Order to dismantle the Department of Education.  The lawsuit was filed on behalf of the Easthampton School District, the Somerverville Public School Committee, the American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees, the American  Association of Universty Professors and the Service Employees International Union.  These groups are fighting to protect the services that the Department of Education provides to students, families and educators — services that include safeguarding civil rights, supporting students with disabilities and ensuring access to higher education.

The filing comes in response to sweeping layoffs that have already decimated the Department’s workforce — from 4,133 employees to just over 2,100 for now.  The administration also intends to attack critical functions like the Office for Special Education Programs and Federal Student Aid to agencies without the expertise or resources to do the work.  Educatiors warn that these changes will not only harm students, but also violate the Constitution and decades of congressional action.

The Democracy Forward press release did not indicate which court  the lawsuit was filed in, but this blogger is trying to find out that information.