PSEA

My PSEA Login
|

Join PSEA
PSEA

Keystone to Democracy

PSEA members pursued careers in education to make a difference and help students reach their full potential. But politicians in Washington, D.C., are executing a plan to undercut this important work, by dismantling public education and defunding critical services that Pennsylvania’s students and communities rely on.

At the heart of this plan is Project 2025, a policy blueprint written by billionaires and extremists to radically restructure presidential power and phase out federal funding and support for public schools.

With PSEA's Keystone to Democracy project, we are educating members about these threats and how we can fight back, so that in the 2026 election, we can elect more pro-public education candidates who will stand up for educators, support professionals, and students.

What is PSEA members’ vision?

PSEA members became educators and support professionals to make a difference. We value teaching and learning focused on the needs of our students. And we envision a future where resources and funding are no longer obstacles for our students to reach their full potential.

We joined this union because we are stronger together. We value collective action because it works – to protect our students, our rights, and our ability to bargain for professional salaries, benefits, and working conditions.

That’s why we need to stick together, have each other’s backs, and mobilize to elect candidates who believe what we believe about public education, our students, our professions, and our communities.

What do PSEA members value?

PSEA members became educators and support professionals because we value:

  • Our voices in our union and as leaders in our profession;
  • A diverse, respectful, and inclusive union;
  • Collective action to support and protect members’ rights and improve our working conditions;
  • Our members well-being and quality of life;
  • Professional growth and expertise;
  • Equitable resources and opportunities for all students:
  • Teaching and learning focused on the needs of students; and
  • Integrity.

The Threat? Project 2025.

Mandate for Leadership: The Conservative Promise

Mandate for Leadership: The Conservative Promise, better known as Project 2025, is a 920-page policy agenda written by people from a right-wing think tank, without input from educators like you.

Today, the current administration in Washinton, D.C., is actively using Project 2025 to shape public policy. This agenda will impact you, your school, and your students.

Project 2025 includes plans to:

  • Shutter the U.S. Department of Education,
  • Slash food benefits for the children you teach and serve,
  • Cut Medicaid for Pennsylvanians who need it for health care, and
  • Undermine union rights for educators and support professionals.

What is Project 2025’s long-term goal?

To phase out all federal funding for public education. Our state and our school districts can’t afford that. They don’t have billions of new dollars to fill that federal funding gap.  

That means fewer dollars for salaries, health care, and pensions for educators and support staff like you. And it means surging class sizes, college students losing financial aid, and students with disabilities losing supports and protections.

The bottom line is that Project 2025 will make your professional life harder and create challenges for many of your students.

What is the proof? Have a look at excerpts directly from Project 2025

Project 2025, page 350

"Over a 10-year period, the federal spending [on public education] should be phased out and states should assume decision-making control over how to provide a quality education to children from low-income families."

PSEA's view:

"We cannot allow politicians in Washington to execute a plan that will dismantle public education and phase out all federal education funding over the next decade. Doing so will undermine public education as we know it and harm our students and families."

- PSEA President, Aaron Chapin

Page 350 Excerpt

Project 2025, pages 319 and 325

“Federal education policy should be limited and, ultimately, the federal Depart­ment of Education should be eliminated. …

"The federal government should confine its involvement in education policy to that of a statistics-gathering agency that disseminates information to the states."

PSEA's view:

"Shutting down the Department of Education and laying off staff isn’t about reforming how government works. It is about dismantling public education as we know it, disrespecting our work, and giving up on a generation of students.

"It will put $1.6 billion in federal funding for Pennsylvania’s public schools at risk. A big piece of that funding supports special education services for the more than 300,000 students in Pennsylvania with IEPs."

- PSEA Vice President, Jeff Ney

Page 319 Excerpt

Project 2025, page 319

"Ultimately, every parent should have the option to direct his or her child’s share of education funding through an education savings account (ESA), funded overwhelmingly by state and local taxpayers, which would empower parents to choose a set of education options that meet their child's unique needs."

PSEA's view:

"Whatever you call it, vouchers will shift billions in taxpayer money away from our public schools to unaccountable private and religious schools. It will devastate public schools and undermine the education of nearly 50 million American students.

"Evidence from several states tells us that private school vouchers funded by taxpayers fail to deliver for the kids who are most in need, especially when subsidies are given to every family, even very wealthy ones. That is exactly what Project 2025 calls for."

- PSEA President, Aaron Chapin

Page 319 Excerpt

Project 2025, Page 303

"Federal meal programs for K–12 students were created to provide food to children from low-income families while at school. Today, however, federal school meals increasingly resemble entitlement programs that have strayed far from their original objective and represent an example of the ever-expanding federal footprint in local school operations."

PSEA's view:

"School meal programs bring major health benefits for students. For example, students who eat breakfast miss fewer school days and show better results in their classrooms. According to the School Nutrition Association, students who eat breakfast have better concentration and memory, are more alert, and are better able to maintain healthy weights. Students who take part in school meal programs are also more likely to eat fruits and vegetables."

- PSEA Treasurer, Rachael West

Page 303 Excerpt

What is the impact … on PSEA members?

In states like PA that have collective bargaining rights, Project 2025’s proposals could:

✔ Potentially weaken federal enforcement of collective bargaining protections. 

✔ Create a political and legal climate hostile to education associations and collective action. 

✔ Indirectly pressure salaries and benefits by reducing workers’ leverage and protections.

✔ Undermine food assistance for vulnerable children in our schools and communities.

✔ Gut Medicaid for Pennsylvanians who need it to access basic health care.

 

Learn more about your salary and benefit protection as a PSEA member

ESP members
EA members 

 

What do our friends and neighbors think about this?

Pennsylvanians share our values and support teaching and learning focused on the needs of our students. And they OPPOSE Project 2025 plans to attack public education.

Here’s the proof, based on a poll PSEA commissioned through Susquehanna Polling and Research, Inc.

By the numbers

86%

believe that the federal government should increase or keep funding the same for free and reduced lunch programs.

82%

believe that the federal government should increase or keep funding the same for Title 1 programs for economically disadvantaged students.

92%

believe that the federal government should increase or keep funding the same for students with special needs.

67%

oppose closing the U.S. Department of Education.

56%

oppose tuition voucher programs.

58%

rate the quality of Pennsylvania’s public schools as excellent or good.

How do your fellow members feel?

Jennifer Simpson, Teacher, Wallenpaupack Area EA

“I became an Education Defender because once I became more involved in my local, I realized just how much politics influences our jobs and our students. I was sick and tired of hearing and reading about politicians trying to demean our profession, underfund our public schools, and hurt our most vulnerable students. I needed to use my (loud) voice to stand up to this nonsense and tell the true stories of what happens inside our classrooms."

Mylinda Fowler, Teacher, Shippensburg EA

“I became an Education Defender because I believe every student deserves a great public education, no matter where they come from. As a Technology and Engineering Education teacher, I see every day how hands-on learning and creative problem-solving can completely change a student’s confidence and future. Public schools are where kids discover what they’re capable of, and that’s worth fighting for. Too often, education is treated like a political game instead of a promise to our students. I joined this movement to stand up for my students, my co-workers, and the future of public education. When educators and communities speak up together, our voices are powerful. That’s why I’m proud to be an Education Defender.”

Katherine Mulokey, Special Ed. Teacher, Erie EA

"I grew up in Northern Virginia and witnessed cuts to public education in wealthy areas, along with the push for increased private education. When I became a teacher, there were no opportunities to act as a community to protect our students. I now live in Erie, PA, and work with students with disabilities. The families in my area do not have access to resources that could supplement what they receive through public education when programs are cut. I cannot sit aside while my students suffer to satisfy a bottom line. My students deserve access to high-quality public education. I could not, in good conscience, sit by while people play politics with their futures."

Lee Speers, Teacher/Local President, Norristown EA

"I became a PSEA Ed Defender because I believe every student in Pennsylvania deserves access to a high-quality public education, supported by empowered educators. Standing with other defenders gives me a voice to protect our schools, advocate for fair policies, and ensure that public education remains a cornerstone of opportunity for all."

What can you do?

Become an Education Defender.

Why? Because Pennsylvania is the battleground for control of the U.S. Congress.

Pennsylvania won’t just be in the spotlight, we’ll help decide the outcome.

In May 2026, control of Congress runs through PA-7, PA-8, and PA-10.

But everywhere in Pennsylvania will be critical to victory in November, and everyone has a role to play.

PSEA Headquarters

(800) 944-7732 | (717) 255-7000

  • My PSEA Login

Contact Us

Quick Links

Resources By Profession

PSEA Regions

Copyright @ 2025 PSEA. All rights reserved.
PSEA Privacy Policy