Across Lancaster, students are raising their voices on behalf of public education. What started as an International Baccalaureate Global Politics assignment became a student-led rallying call to protest the state’s budget impasse, now in its fourth month, and to call for more equitable funding for school districts like theirs.
The student-organized walkout, led by junior Thomas McCoy ’27, was a peaceful demonstration that united students, educators, and community members. The demonstration drew attention to the financial challenges facing the School District of Lancaster and school districts across the Commonwealth that rely heavily on state funding to operate.
McCoy’s research led him to an article detailing the $44 million in funding shortfall SDoL faces, according to the state’s Basic Education Funding Commission, exacerbated by the prolonged state budget impasse. With support from his teachers, classmates, and family, and assent from district leaders, including Superintendent Dr. Keith Miles and Principal Dr. Justin Reese, McCoy planned the student protest to call attention to the urgent need for fair and timely funding for Lancaster’s schools.
The School District of Lancaster relies on approximately $155 million in state funding, which makes up 55% of the district’s total budget. With the state budget still unresolved, SDoL faces mounting financial uncertainty. The district is prepared to draw from a $35 million line of credit to maintain operations if an agreement is not reached soon, a temporary measure that carries interest costs, prevents the district from investing in preventive maintenance and programs like after-school tutoring, and strains long-term resources.
“We’re looking at a substantial portion of our revenues being held in limbo until a budget is approved,” Dr. Miles said. “We are weighing in the balance our ability to provide a safe, high-quality education for every student.”
These concerns extend beyond payroll. Matt Shields, SDoL’s Director of Facilities and School Operations, warned of the ripple effects the impasse could have on district infrastructure. “We’re looking at real safety and maintenance risks,” he said, citing an urgent repair at McCaskey’s water storage tank, which costs nearly $90,000. “If we can’t complete that repair in time, we could be forced to close the building temporarily. That would impact not only classrooms but also the childcare facility and the kitchen that prepares meals for every school in the district.”
The walkout was an act of civic engagement. Students carried signs with messages like “There is no future for this nation without education” and “Fund our schools, fund our future.”
McCoy’s speech was impassioned but hopeful. He spoke of tyranny not as a political label, but as the refusal to fund education, calling it an act of neglect that weakens entire communities. “It’s tyranny to force a district to lose education funding and take on crippling loans. But we stood up. This affects everyone in this city. Education is a shared responsibility, and today we’re proving that students are ready to lead.”
His message resonated deeply with those gathered, from students attending their first-ever protest to teachers and families standing shoulder-to-shoulder with them. “Even if someone says this is just a gathering,” McCoy said, “these community gatherings do bring change, and they really do something.”
The district continues to advocate at the state level for a fair and equitable budget resolution. Dr. Miles emphasized that education funding should never become a casualty of political gridlock. “You can’t create the environments students deserve, safe buildings, well-resourced classrooms, dedicated staff, without consistent funding,” he said.
The student-led protest served as a living lesson in civic responsibility. It reminded all who watched that education is not just about textbooks and tests, it’s about empowerment and engagement.
“These students are demonstrating the power of civic engagement,” Dr. Miles reflected afterward. “They understand that democracy depends on participation, and they’re reminding all of us that their education is not a political bargaining chip, it’s a fundamental right.”
Lancaster has long been a city shaped by hard work and community pride. Its students carry that legacy forward. Their willingness to step into leadership, to research, to organize, and to advocate shows the kind of active citizenship that strengthens not only schools, but democracy itself.
The School District of Lancaster continues to call on state leaders to pass a budget that prioritizes students and restores stability to Pennsylvania’s public schools. For more photos, visit us on Facebook.
