Summertime is pretty quiet for the Legislature, but if you’re a parent, you know that now is when things really start to ramp up. The school year is fast approaching, and on top of the excitement of our kids returning to the classroom and dealing with the ever-present logistical challenge of extracurricular schedules, we are now witnessing Republicans actively trying to undermine America’s education system.

Marc Malon

In Trump’s so-called “Big, Beautiful Bill,” a hack budget that I have criticized in previous editions of this column, there was a push to slash federal spending on public education by $4.5 billion and dramatically shrink the Department of Education, shifting the financial burden of education funding to individual states.

This is a terrible idea. So terrible that even Senate Republicans rejected that portion of the proposal. While the spending cuts were overall rejected, it is a reminder that it is more important than ever to put the necessary safeguards in place here at the state level. Call me old-fashioned, but I believe that investing in our kids’ education is the best contribution that we can make toward our future. I know my Democratic colleagues in the House and Senate agree with this sentiment.

That’s why this past session, we banded together to push through measures that provide vital support for our students and educational workforce. The focus was clear. We only want to back measures that would support teachers, empower students and create an education system where every student could succeed — while rejecting any measure that is designed to fuel the so-called “culture war.”

We enacted a continuing services budget that ensures that breakfast and lunches will remain free for K-12 students. We also maintained municipal revenue sharing at 5% for the biennium, which in turn eases the burden of property taxes while supporting our schools.

Other educational measures we advanced this session focus on building the next generation of Maine’s workforce. One of the most significant steps we took was funding free community college for high school students in the class of 2025. Not only does this alleviate financial pressure felt by some Maine families, but it also opens the door to higher education for students who might otherwise have found it to be out of reach. The next step is to find a means to continue to fund this program for the class of 2026 and beyond.

Additionally, we increased operational funding for public colleges and universities in Maine. This strengthens the institutions that train our nurses, our engineers and all of the professionals who are essential to our economy. It was vital to my colleagues and me to support measures that kept education in the state high-quality and accessible so that students can remain rooted in their communities, rather than feeling they have to leave the state for educational opportunities.

Obviously there are still challenges. Although the budget commits to covering 55% of education costs statewide, the current school funding formula (which dictates how these funds are distributed) is deeply flawed; because of high-value properties on our coast, Biddeford does not get all of the funds that it should, even though a significant portion of our students come from disadvantaged situations.

Currently there are communities more affluent than Biddeford which get a bigger piece of the pie. We need to fix this. Lawmakers are currently reexamining the funding formula and I hope to be able to vote for a positive change next session.

There will always be more we can do to support our students and help them thrive in school. But we’ll only succeed if we take public policy seriously, and not resort to cheap stunts or scapegoating vulnerable kids.

Each of the measures the Legislature passed shares a common theme: They look toward the future. Because that is the goal of education, to raise and support the next generation of leaders, not only in our state but across the country. We can expect to grapple with the fallout of Trump’s federal cuts for years to come, but the work we did this last session makes it clear that Maine won’t wait on Washington to prioritize our students. We are already doing the work.

Marc Malon represents House District 133, part of Biddeford, in the Maine House of Representatives. He can be reached at marc.malon@legislature.maine.gov.