Daniel Zhao

Brian Grindrod teaches civics at Wilbur Cross High School. Eight years ago, he was trained through a federal Supporting Effective Educator Development grant to teach the history of the United States Constitution. In recent years, Grindrod has mentored other teachers in implementing the same curriculum. 

Now, that same program is in limbo as the Trump administration tries to cut funding to the Center for Civic Education, which runs the project in New England. 

“I have to teach facts and current events and what’s going on. But yes, students do express their opinions on what is happening. And yes, there is fear,” Grindrod said.

Earlier this month, President Trump signed an executive order instructing Secretary of Education Linda McMahon to dismantle the department she was appointed to lead. Additionally, the Department of Homeland Security announced in January that immigration raids were no longer prohibited in “sensitive locations” like schools. 

Across New Haven, the effects of Trump’s education policies are already being felt in the classroom, alaming educators, students and city leaders.

Mayor Justin Elicker said Trump’s approach to education is hypocritical.

“The Trump administration has this idea of putting the authority for education back to the states at the same time that he’s attempting to take away our authority to choose how our children in our public schools are educated,” Elicker said.

The dismantling of the Department of Education will result in less oversight and civil rights protection in public schools nationwide, Elicker added. 

John Carlos Musser, a senior at Wilbur Cross, is concerned that federal cuts will only widen long-standing inequalities between urban and suburban schools in Connecticut. He called on wealthy Connecticut residents to contribute more to urban schools.

“New Haven is under attack from the Trump administration, and we need more money to counter the massive blows that are going to be had,” he said.

Shortly after the presidential election in November, Stephen Staysniak, an English teacher at Metropolitan Business Academy, told the News he was confident his work would be protected, even if students in his class remained concerned about how the new administration might impact their families. Five months later, Staysniak feels the same.

“On a personal level, I find it extraordinarily disturbing, but I wouldn’t say that that’s had an impact on our school community and the conversations we’re having,” Staysniak said.

Staysniak praised student leaders for organizing to protect undocumented students, and expressed confidence in the district’s protocol for potential Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids. 

State leaders, Staysniak emphasized, have only doubled down on their support for the ethnic studies and diversity programs targeted by the Trump administration. “I feel very protected in what I teach, both in my school, in my district, and in my state,” he said. 

At Wilbur Cross, Grindrod remains concerned about the dissonance between what he teaches his students and the reality of contemporary politics, as many of the norms included in the curriculum aren’t being followed by the federal administration, he said.

According to Grindrod, changes in federal policy have already caused uncertainty in New Haven schools, especially with the potential threat to Title One funds caused by Trump’s efforts to dismantle the Department of Education.

“Things are so disruptive right now that it’s hard to even just plan like next week. I can’t even imagine what the people on Meadow Street are trying to do with planning a budget,” Grindrod said, referring to NHPS administration headquarters. 

New Haven depends on federal Title One grants for students in poverty to support its public schools. A cut to the Title One program could result in almost 700 teachers losing their jobs in the New Haven area alone, Staysniak — who also serves on the labor board of the New Haven Federation of Teachers — said. 

Last year, Staysniak told the News that he found the president’s promise to dismantle the Department of Education unfeasible. Now, he remains confident that key federal programs will remain intact, even if under different agencies, but is more concerned.

“It’s shocking to see it happen right in front of you,” he said.

New Haven Public Schools reported 3,437 employees in the 2023-2024 school year.

Elijah Hurewitz-Ravitch contributed reporting.