PHILADELPHIA (March 4, 2025) – Members of the 1.8 million-strong American Federation of Teachers in communities stretching from Philadelphia to Allegheny counties took part in a national day of action to inform and activate members of the public about looming federal education cuts that would hurt Pennsylvania students. Nearly 90% of K-12 students in Pennsylvania are enrolled in public schools, many of which benefit from funding and programmatic support from the U.S. Department of Education.
In the face of illegal cuts to U.S. Department of Education programs and funding and a stated promise to dismantle the department completely, public school districts across Pennsylvania are bracing for devastating losses in federal support for low-income students, students with disabilities, and other highly vulnerable student populations.
If the Trump administration’s assault on the Department of Education is not stopped by the courts or Congress, Pennsylvania stands to lose:
- $752 million for Title I schools—which serve over 797,000 students—to fill education funding gaps and support low-income students
- $560 million for 358,000 special education and diverse learners
- $71.6 million for career and technical education, including pathways to jobs through apprenticeship programs in traditional trades or STEM careers
- $68 billion in federal student loans, supporting more than 1.8 million Pennsylvanians seeking higher education
- $850 million in Pell grants, ensuring more than 179,000 students can pursue a college degree regardless of income
- $7.3 million to strengthen public education through mental health and learning services and teacher training programs to address a statewide staffing crisis
“Federal funding from the U.S. Department of Education currently supports more than 1.7 million students across 2,900 Pennsylvania K-12 public schools. Any disruption to the flow of 1.45 billion federal dollars to our schools threatens to throw them into chaos. Investments and programs already budgeted and approved by school boards will face cuts or elimination, and municipalities will be forced to raise taxes and fees to ensure public schools are able to meet their legal and constitutionally required obligations to students,” said Arthur G. Steinberg, president of the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers (PFT) and AFT Pennsylvania (AFTPA). “No part of the Trump-Musk education agenda is about ‘reforming’ or ‘streamlining’ government. No news outlet or journalist should repeat such obvious propaganda.”
The School District of Philadelphia, one of the oldest and largest school districts in the nation, benefits from more than $500 million in direct and indirect federal support. Blocking federal education funds could rob Philly public schools of $56 million for special education, $178 million in Title 1 funding, $7 million for career and technical education, and $86 million for school meals reimbursement.
“As a historically underfunded school district, maintaining federal funding to serve and educate our youth is critical. These cuts would severely impact historically marginalized students and families in urban, suburban and rural communities – the students living in poverty; students living with disabilities; and students from working class families, who rely on Pell grants or federal loans to make college more affordable,” said School District of Philadelphia Superintendent Tony B. Watlington, Sr., Ed.D. “The future of Philadelphia District and Charter students relies on the fiscal health of our school system and continuous impactful funding. Our students deserve access to 21st century learning environments and well-supported and stable educators.”
Elected officials including PA Reps. Andre Carroll and Darisha Parker and City Council Majority Leader Katherine Gilmore Richardson and Minority Leader Kendra Brooks joined school officials, labor leaders, and AFT members for a press conference at Widener Memorial School – the only public school in the Commonwealth solely dedicated to supporting special education and diverse learners. The comprehensive education and services offered by Widener – with support from the Department of Education – helps ensure students thrive and go on to higher education, fulfilling careers, and lives filled with purpose and self-determination.
“Working in special education requires years of training and honing of skills. As a third generation Philadelphia public school teacher, I’m incredibly proud that educators and staff at Widener are able to provide a challenging and affirming education to diverse learners, many of whom go on to higher education and live independent, purpose-filled lives,” said Paul Breen, a Widener high school teacher in a Life Skills Support Classroom and PFT member. “It takes resources and dedication to provide our students with functional training in independent living and academics. It is shocking that anyone wants to deprive our kids of an education that empowers them to build independence, knowledge, and skills.”
“As an educator, teaching young children with autism is a wonderful challenge. It takes a lot of time and effort to create individualized visual schedules, and for students who are non-verbal it takes time and commitment to continuously create individualized academic tasks and ensure that their learning opportunities are authentic and in line with an individual education plan,” said Marsena Toney, an autism support educator at Jenks Academy for Arts and Sciences and PFT member. “For all of this to happen within a classroom size of 27 to 30 [general population] students – as opposed to the eight students in special education classrooms – would be a disaster. The changes that are being proposed are very disheartening, and I can’t even imagine what that would look like for autistic students.”
“We all know that the actions of the federal government are chaotic. And while the specific actions may be new and coming at a frenetic pace, the goal is not new. The goal has been and will continue to be to dismantle, defund, and destroy public education,” said Senate Education Committee Minority Chair Lindsey Williams of Allegheny County. “Let me be crystal clear: President Musk is pillaging the Department of Education to find money to make him and his tech bro billionaire friends richer. The students who will bear the brunt of this greed are our students with the most needs – our students with disabilities.”
"Students and teachers aren’t the only thing under attack today. The Supreme Court once said that public schools are our 'most vital civic institution for the preservation of a democratic system of government,' and the primary way we transmit 'the values on which our society rests. The promise of public education is as important to all of us as it is dangerous to demagogues," said Dan Urevick-Ackelsberg, senior attorney at Public Interest Law Center. "This is more than an attack on children or teachers. It is a foundational attack on a just, pluralistic democracy, where everyone has a chance and everyone has a voice."
Those who joined PFT members outside of public schools and at Widener Memorial School also include: Dr. Jermaine Dawson, Deputy Superintendent of Academic Services; Principal Theresa Harrington; 11th grade student Taisha Cruz; City Council members Anthony Phillips, Kendra Brooks, Rue Landau, and Isiaiah Thomas; PA Reps. Sean Dougherty and Rick Krajewski; as well as leaders of the Philadelphia Council AFL-CIO and 32BJ SEIU.
For more information about the impacts of dismantling the Department of Education, visit www.aft.org/ProtectOurKids.
