More public education funding in the COVID 4 Federal Package

Pennsylvania educators are doing amazing work as we teach and serve kids during the COVID-19
emergency. Even while schools are closed, PSEA members have found ways to keep students
learning.

But this pandemic will have real and lasting impacts on Pennsylvania’s school district budgets. Without
help from the federal government, school districts project revenue shortfalls of up to $325 million this
school year and more than $1 billion in the 2020-21 school year. These deficits could force schools
to cut thousands of employees and eliminate programs that help students learn.

Contact your U.S. senator and representative today and ask them to support additional, significant,
and flexible federal funding for our school districts.

Here’s what you need to know.
  • Since March 6, Congress has passed three laws to provide more than $2 trillion in federal support for medical programs, workers, and businesses impacted by the COVID-19 emergency.
  • These laws do not include enough funding for state and local governments that could face dramatic revenue shortfalls because of the pandemic.
  • In Pennsylvania, the Pennsylvania Association of School Business Officials has estimated that our state’s school districts are facing approximately $1 billion in local revenue losses for the 2020-21 school year.
  • Without more federal support, our schools could be forced to cut 50,000 employees, eliminate programs like art, music, and sports, and increase class sizes.
  • Cuts like these will devastate our public schools and communities and hurt our students.

Speak out today
We know what drastic school funding cuts look like. In 2011, we saw how nearly $1 billion in school funding cuts forced school districts to eliminate 27,000 education jobs and slash funding for school libraries, aides, music, art, and sports.

We can help prevent those cuts by urging our U.S. senators and representatives to act.

Contact them today and ask them to support federal funding for Pennsylvania’s schools.

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