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DC Students for a Democratic Society, a chapter of the largest student-run organization in the country, will hold a demonstration at the Department of Education office to present a letter to Secretary of Education Spelling demanding that the DoE acknowledge student debt as a crisis and involve students in policy decisions nationally and locally. Representatives from various DC area universities and high schools will be presenting the letter.

We are uniting with chapters around the country in this national Day of Demands for Accessible Education.

Why are we doing this? Students have a right to a role in shaping their education, especially in a time where economic crisis makes it harder for them to obtain higher education. Education in the United States is not accessible and, contrary to what department's slogan claims, many children are left behind. In the nation's capitol only 59% of students graduate from high school, and 88% of 8th graders can't read at grade level. These students are the same ones who are preyed upon by military recruiters, sending them to war with the promise of cash. We think that this is a travesty.

Meanwhile, student debt for college graduates has doubled in the past decade from $9,250 to $19,200 and more graduates are defaulting on them than ever in history. It is clear that college debt is our financial crisis. When the Federal government has bailed out Sallie Mae and banks with billions of dollars, the Department of Education must do its job and help students get an education. We are going to make our voices heard at the Department of Education because education is a right, not a privilege.