On Tuesday, hundreds of advocates from every corner of the commonwealth traveled to Harrisburg for the PA Schools Work Advocacy Day with one united message: Finish the job. Fund our schools.

In the pouring rain, we rallied on the Capitol steps.
We held nearly 60 meetings with lawmakers.
We wrote postcards, shared our stories, and made our voices heard.

And we sent a message to lawmakers: If this many people will stand together in the rain for our students, we’ll stand up anywhere.

Advocacy Day was full of surprises. From a broken-down bus to soaking wet ponchos, nothing stopped us from showing up for Pennsylvania’s public school students—and we’re not done.

Students, parents, educators, and organizations from across the state came together, including:

• 412 Justice
• ACLAMO
• The Arc of Pennsylvania
• Black Voters Matter
• CASA
• Children First
• Education Law Center
• Education Voters of PA
• In This Together NEPA
• Keystone Research Center
• Make the Road-PA
• NAACP Philadelphia Branch
• Pennsylvanians for Fair Funding
• Pennsylvania Policy Center
• POWER
• Public Interest Law Center
• Teach Plus
• The Urban League of Philadelphia

We came to demand what the court has already made clear: Pennsylvania must fix its unconstitutional school funding system.

Here’s what some of our speakers had to say at Advocacy Day:

“It is a court order that we as citizens of Pennsylvania are demanding so that students like me can graduate and focus on a bright future here in Pennsylvania, because our dreams have no limits and with your support everything is possible.”
— Guadalupe Gabriela García, CASA member and 6th grader, Hanover School District

“Every student in Pennsylvania deserves that same opportunity to prosper into the best version of themselves— they deserve this no matter where they live in this great commonwealth we call home.”
— Jacob Stone McCrea, ACLAMO Community Resource and Advocate Specialist

“Public education has opened doors for my children – and that is what all of Pennsylvania’s children deserve: good quality public education and an equal opportunity to succeed.  
And in order to ensure that, Pennsylvania MUST commit to this second year of solving the school funding crisis.”
— Mayra Del Toro, parent and member of Make the Road

“Our sacred texts are clear. And so are we. We are here — Black, white, Latino, Asian, rich and poor, urban and rural, from every corner of this commonwealth — with one voice and one moral demand: Finish the job. Not next year. Not after the election. Now. Because our children can’t wait, and neither can justice.”
— Rev. Dr. Gregory Edwards, Executive Director of POWER

We will continue to show up—in our districts, in courtrooms, in the streets, and in the Capitol—until every student in Pennsylvania receives the education they are owed. 

This is what commitment looks like.
Let’s finish the job.

The Ed Voters Team

Susan Spicka
Sandra Miller
Lucas Wolk