Delegate Callsen on Sears’ Schemes to Defund Public Education: “It's aligned with Trump rather than the very real needs of students in our classrooms”

VIRGINIA – Yesterday, elected leaders in Charlottesville called out Winsome Earle-Sears for her extreme record attacking public education and her schemes to defund public schools. Charlottesville Mayor Juandiego Wade slammed Sears saying: 
 
“Since her earliest days, Winsome Earle-Sears has attacked public schools and tried to roll back funding. She wants to defund public education, leaving students without the resources and the support they need.” 
 
What Virginians Are Seeing: 
 
CBS 19: Charlottesville leaders criticize Winsome Earle-Sears over education policy

• Anchor: As students in Charlottesville head back to school today, some local elected leaders are speaking out against Republican nominee for governor Winsome Earle-Sears focusing on her positions on public education.
• Reporter: “Earlier this year, the Youngkin-Sears administration proposed budget changes that local leaders say could mean fewer school support staff and fewer resources in the classroom.”
• Delegate Laufer: “We know that our kids deserve better, and we know that Winsome Earle-Sears is not going to deliver.”
• Mayor Wade: “Since her earliest days. Winsome Earle-Sears has attacked public schools and tried to roll back funding. She wants to defund public education, leaving students without the resources and the support they need.” 
• Reporter: “As an example, the group points to last month when Charlottesville City Schools faced a $417,000 budget gap after a temporary pause in federal funding. In Albemarle County, officials say similar cuts could have meant more than $600,000 lost.”
• Del. Laufer: “Those are actual programs. Those are actual jobs that are supporting our students.”
• Reporter: “Delegate Katrina Callsen says it's not just jobs on the line. It's vital programs students rely on every day.”
• Delegate Callsen: “Her platform is based on rhetoric, not substance. It's aligned with Trump rather than the very real needs of students in our classrooms.” 
• Senator Creigh Deeds warns of Sears platform aligning with President Donald Trump's push to dismantle the US Department of Education.
• Sen. Deeds: That means the resources that help our rural schools and students with disabilities are at risk of being cut.
• Reporter: Now, we did reach out to Winsome Earle-Sears campaign for comment, and we're still waiting to hear back.

Cville Right Now: Area Democrats challenge Winsome Earle-Sears’s education record

• Saying that Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears has plans to defund public education if she’s elected governor, area Democrats spoke in front of city hall on Wednesday, attacking the Republican nominee’s position on shifting funding from public to private schools.
• “We’ve worked hard in the state Senate and the House of Delegates to create opportunity for every student of every age in Virginia,” Sen. Creigh Deeds said. “While we’ve had to fend off attacks from Republicans who want to take away the investments our schools need to operate, we’ve been able to protect public education in Virginia. But that progress is at risk.”
• Deeds was joined by Delegates Katrina Callsen and Amy Laufer and Charlottesville mayor Juandiego Wade. Holding signs that warned, “Winsome Earle-Sears wants to defund public education,” and with Laufer donning a red t-shirt that said “I love public education,” the group pointed to funding cuts directed by the current administration of Gov. Glenn Youngkin and Earle-Sears.
• “We know slashing funding will only hurt our community,” Laufer said. “And we know that Winsome Earle-Sears has voted to not only slash funding, but allow public school funds to be used in private schools.”
• Laufer also blasted Earle-Sears support of President Donald Trump’s executive order dismantling the Department of Education.
• Both Laufer and Callsen are both former teachers and school board members. Callsen said seeing the struggles of her parents, who both dropped out of high school, is what drove her to teach and enter politics.
• Callsen said. “For middle school math, we’re ranked last in the nation for pandemic educational recovery. And we’re not much different for reading. I think we’re 41st. The facts speak for themselves under a Republican administration.”

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