Civic education · September 30, 2026
A National Call to Action for the Victims of Communism
A letter from U.S. Secretary of Education Linda E. McMahon on teaching the history of communism and socialism and understanding the constitutional principles that protect American liberty.
A note from Jessica Weiss
Freedom deserves our gratitude and pride.
We are fortunate to live in a free country. That freedom deserves our gratitude, our pride, and our commitment to understanding the history that helps preserve it for the next generation.
About the letter
Civic education, historical memory, and constitutional liberty
The three-page letter was issued ahead of the 10th U.S. National Day for the Victims of Communism, observed on November 7, 2026. It calls on educators to teach the historical consequences of communist and socialist regimes and to compare those histories with the principles of the American constitutional republic.
The letter discusses liberty, private property, religious freedom, free enterprise, checks and balances, and the suppression of dissent. It also identifies state educational initiatives, including programs in Arizona and Florida, intended to provide students with historical context about totalitarian systems and their victims.
Document details
- Author
- Linda E. McMahon
- Office
- U.S. Secretary of Education
- Date
- September 30, 2026
- Length
- 3 pages