The rights of Americans to self-determine how to educate their children — a hotly contested matter that stretches back to at least the Civil War — have long been intertwined with the

Trump's executive order trying to dismantle the Education Department is "unlawful," according to a lawsuit from the second largest teacher's union.

“Donald Trump’s own secretary of education has acknowledged they can’t legally shut down the Department of Education without Congress,” said Aaron Ament, president of the National Student Legal Defense Network, which is helping represent the National Education Association in the case.

Two major lawsuits were filed in federal court looking to block an executive order by President Trump that significantly limits the reach and responsibilities of the Department of Education.

A coalition including the NAACP and the National Education Association, the largest union representing public education professionals, is expected to file suit Monday against the Trump administration over the steps it's taken to dismantle the Department of Education.

Advocacy organizations representing millions of educators, civil rights champions, school employees, students, and families will file a lawsuit Monday to stop the Trump Administration’s illegal attempts to dismantle the United States Department of Education.

Shawna Maher worries as executive orders threaten vital support for her son with ADD amid efforts to dismantle the Department of Education.

A range of national and local education groups, including the union representing Maryland state employees, sued the U.S. Department of Education to halt it from dismantling.