Tensions are running high across the nation the day before the presidential election. With history on the cusp of being made, voters face a pivotal moment to determine the trajectory of education, equity, and opportunity for future generations. Amid the constant chaos and spectacle surrounding Donald Trump’s campaign, it has sometimes been difficult for substantial policy discussions to take center stage. Yet, Vice President Kamala Harris has maintained a steady focus on championing educational initiatives that uplift working families and empower future generations.

The Harris campaign promises to build upon the legacy of the Biden-Harris administration, showcasing major education investments and outlining plans to expand these efforts if elected. Notably, the American Rescue Plan passed by Congress in March 2021 included a historic $122 billion allocation for K-12 schools—one of the most significant financial boosts during the pandemic era. This funding was essential in helping schools address learning loss, improve facilities, and support teachers and students as they navigated unprecedented challenges.

Vice President Harris has played a critical role in delivering what is hailed as the largest public education investment in U.S. history. Under her leadership, nearly $170 billion in student debt relief has been secured for almost five million borrowers. Harris has also championed record investments in Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribal Colleges, Hispanic-serving institutions, and other minority-serving institutions. To make higher education more attainable, she has advocated for increasing the maximum Pell Grant award by $900—the largest increase in over a decade—and reinforced her commitment to community colleges as crucial pathways to economic mobility. Additionally, her policies have facilitated hiring over one million registered apprentices, underscoring her dedication to building strong career pathways for non-college graduates.

Contrasting sharply with these forward-thinking initiatives is Trump’s education platform, which promises policies centered on parental rights, universal school choice, and what he calls “patriotic education.” Critics argue that these proposals align with efforts to limit educational content, including banning books and suppressing the teaching of Black history. In Republican-controlled states, there has been an intensifying movement to restrict how race and history are taught in schools, fueling fears of erasure and censorship.

Rep. Ayanna Pressley, representing Massachusetts' 7th Congressional District, has been an outspoken advocate against these efforts. She has framed the battle as a broader “white supremacist attack to silence the Black community.” Pressley’s Books Save Lives Act aims to counteract the rising tide of book bans, particularly those targeting Black literature. “This is an assault on our intellectual freedoms and a fight for education, democracy, and justice,” Pressley told BET.com in September. Her work highlights the stakes of this election, where educational access and diversity are directly under threat.

Trump has also called for abolishing the Department of Education, a move that would dramatically impact publicly funded colleges, including community colleges that serve as lifelines for working families. Harris, in her speech at the Democratic National Convention in August, declared, “We are not going to let him eliminate the Department of Education that funds our public schools,” underscoring the commitment to protecting and expanding educational opportunities for all.

As election day looms, the choice is clear. Voters will decide the future of education—whether it continues to be a pathway for empowerment or becomes a battleground for ideological control. If early voting is available, make your voice heard today. If not, be sure to cast your vote tomorrow. 

The future of the next generation depends on it.