A new poll confirms what many of us already know: Pennsylvanians support strong public schools — and they want elected leaders to invest in the students who attend them.

According to a recent poll conducted by Susquehanna Polling and Research for the Pennsylvania State Education Association (PSEA), a majority of likely voters in Pennsylvania oppose dismantling the U.S. Department of Education and support continued — or increased — federal funding for essential programs that students rely on every day.

🔹 58% oppose eliminating the U.S. Department of Education.
🔹 88% support continued or increased funding for free and reduced-price lunches.
🔹 86% support continued or increased funding for Title I programs that help economically disadvantaged students.
🔹 88% support continued or increased funding for special education services.

With $1.6 billion in federal education funding flowing to Pennsylvania each year, efforts to dismantle and eliminate the U.S. Department of Education threaten the academic futures of students across the state, especially those who rely on Title I and special education support. Federal funding at stake includes  $578 million for Title I programs, $428 million for special education services, and $740 million annually for free and reduced lunches in schools in Pennsylvania. 

This poll also found strong opposition to taxpayer-funded private school vouchers and broad agreement that lack of funding and resources, not political agendas, is the greatest threat to our schools.

PSEA President Aaron Chapin summed it up well. “This poll confirms what we have been hearing from Pennsylvania educators, support staff, and the students and families they serve. Pennsylvanians want their elected leaders to invest in students from all backgrounds — in rural, urban, and suburban communities. They do not want to see the department that distributes and oversees billions in federal school funding be dismantled and tossed aside.”

OUR NOTE: Any cut in federal funding will blow open a hole in school district budgets. In order to fill this hole districts will need to raise local property taxes or they will need to lay off teachers and eliminate programs and services that students depend on to balance their budgets.

Click HERE to send a letter to tell your members of Congress to protect public education and support the public schools in the districts they have been elected to represent. 

Press Release: https://www.psea.org/news–events/newsstand/press-center/news-release—march-31-2025/

Full Poll: https://www.psea.org/globalassets/newsstand/usdoe-poll-2025/toplines-pastatewide-psea-march2025-r.pdf

Thank you for your support of public education. We are grateful to do this important work together.

The Ed Voters Team

Susan Spicka
Sandra Miller
Lucas Wolk