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HARRISBURG, PA (March 12, 2025) — Aaron Chapin, president of the Pennsylvania State Education Association, responded to recent reports of the Trump administration firing more than 1,300 staff members at the U.S. Department of Education.

This mass firing of staff is being rushed through as part of the administration’s long-term goal of dismantling the Department of Education. Chapin said the move is creating a tremendous amount of chaos and confusion for public schools across Pennsylvania and the nation.

A top concern is what will happen to about $1.6 billion in federal education funding that Pennsylvania receives each year through the U.S. Department of Education, once its staffing levels are decimated.

The lion’s share of that funding supports the most vulnerable students and the public school staff members who teach and serve them. According to a PSEA review of the federal budget for the 2022-23 fiscal year, this funding includes:

• $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.

“The mass firing at the Department of Education has put $1.6 billion in federal education funding at risk in Pennsylvania,” Chapin said. “Losing that crucial funding would send class sizes soaring, jeopardize special education services, and put nearly 7,000 public school jobs at risk in Pennsylvania.

“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. Think about what this means for students receiving special education services 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 so that billionaires can get another massive tax cut.

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