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HARRISBURG, PA (March 20, 2025) — Aaron Chapin, president of the Pennsylvania State Education Association, responded to an executive order issued by President Trump today to begin dismantling the U.S. Department of Education, a move that jeopardizes $1.6 billion in federal funding for Pennsylvania public schools and nearly 7,000 public school jobs.

Pennsylvania receives about $1.6 billion in federal education funding distributed through the U.S. Department of Education, according to a PSEA review of the federal budget for the 2022-23 fiscal year. The lion’s share of that funding supports Pennsylvania’s most vulnerable students and the public school staff members who teach and serve them, including:

• $578 million for Title I programs benefiting the poorest students in rural, suburban, and urban communities across Pennsylvania,
• $428 million for Individuals with Disabilities in Education (IDEA) programs, supporting special education services for hundreds of thousands of Pennsylvania students, and
• 6,846 educators and support professionals in our public schools who teach and serve Pennsylvania’s most vulnerable students.

“Today’s executive order has put $1.6 billion in funding for Pennsylvania’s public schools at risk,” Chapin said. “Think of what this means for students from low-income families living in communities that count on these federal investments to support their public education as well as students with disabilities and their families.

“These students deserve more support, not less. But they and many others will pay the price if the department that distributes and oversees billions in federal funding is dismantled and tossed aside.

“This crucial funding supports the education of hundreds of thousands of Pennsylvania students. Without it, we estimate that nearly 7,000 educators and support professionals, who teach and serve some of our most vulnerable students, would lose their jobs.

“Let’s be clear. This isn’t about reforming how government works. It is about dismantling public education as we know it, putting teachers and support staff out of jobs, and giving up on a generation of students.

“Pennsylvanians want elected leaders who will protect and strengthen public schools for every student — in rural, suburban, and urban communities. We call on our U.S. senators and U.S. House members to take decisive action to protect public schools and the students and families who count on federal support for their education.”

Chapin is a Stroudsburg Area middle school teacher and president of PSEA. An affiliate of the National Education Association, PSEA represents about 177,000 active and retired educators and school employees, aspiring educators, higher education staff, and health care workers in Pennsylvania.