Families rely on public schools for education, opportunity, community, and stability. Over the past decade, the state has systematically disinvested in K–12 schools, expanded private school vouchers (even for high-income families) and passed laws that undermine academic freedom in higher education. Indiana now ranks 40th nationally in educational attainment,  Recent legislation has diverted hundreds of millions of public dollars to private and religious schools, imposed ideological controls on curriculum and faculty, weakened tenure protections, and created a new diploma that lowers academic expectations and restricts access to a broad, well-rounded education, making it harder for students to adapt in a changing economy. At the same time, Indiana’s lack of investment in early childhood education has made preschool unaffordable or unavailable for many families, despite decades of research showing that every dollar invested in Pre-K pays off many times over.