Pa. schools could lose special education, Pell grant funding if Donald Trump guts the Department of Education, teachers warn

Members from the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers and state and local officials warned residents that Pennsylvania could lose $1.45 billion in public education funding if President Donald Trump dismantles the US Department of Education. 

Educators from the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers (PFT) rallied outside of the Widener Memorial School in North Philadelphia on Tuesday to raise awareness about President Donald Trump’s attempt to dismantle the US Department of Education (DOE) and how that could impact public education throughout the commonwealth. 

“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,” Arthur G. Steinberg, president of the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers (PFT) and AFT Pennsylvania (AFTPA), said in a statement.

“No part of the Trump-Musk education agenda is about ‘reforming’ or ‘streamlining’ government. No news outlet or journalist should repeat such obvious propaganda.”

With Trump promising to dismantle the DOE, Pennsylvania is at risk of losing $1.45 billion in federal funding for public education. This includes $752 million for Title I schools, which serve 797,000 students from lower income families, and $560 million for students that need special education. 

Additionally, the state could lose $850 million in Pell grants, which helps 179,000 Pennsylvanians pay for college. 

The School District of Philadelphia, which is one of the oldest and largest school districts in the country, could lose up to $500 million in direct or indirect federal funding. That is on top of being chronically underfunded by the commonwealth. 

“The promise of public education is as important to all of us as it is dangerous to demagogues,” Dan Urevick-Ackelsberg, senior attorney at Public Interest Law Center, said in a statement  “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.”