On May 1st, Public School Strong will be mobilizing because the fight for public education is the fight for working people, democracy, and justice. Our schools are losing funding and becoming less inclusive and safe while politicians, and profiteers who want to turn this critical public good into a private commodity. We cannot allow our communities to be stripped of their voice and power. Join us for a national day of action.
We invite you to use the Public School Strong messaging guide that includes talking points for parents, educators, government workers and concerned community members to help make a powerful day for solidarity and progress.
Education is a Right, Not a Privilege
Every child—regardless of race, zip code, income, gender, or immigration status—has the right to a high-quality public education. That right has been affirmed again and again by our courts, our Constitution, and our communities. But today, that promise is under attack. From school voucher scams, to efforts to exclude immigrant children from public schools, banning honest history, gutting Title VI protections and more, extremist politicians are trying to roll back the rights that keep our schools safe, inclusive, and nurturing for all children.
We All Do Better When Every Child Can Learn
Our public schools are one of the few places where children from all backgrounds come together to learn from and with one another. Whether it’s banning books, attacking diverse, equitable, and inclusive programs, or diverting public funds to private schools.
The goal is the same: to divide us and dismantle one of the last public goods we all benefit from. We must remain united to protect schools as places of growth, safety, and belonging for every child.
We are the Many, They are the Few
The public wants honest education, safe schools, and a future where all kids can thrive. Across the country, communities are rejecting these attacks because they know what’s really at stake. From book bans in Florida to anti-DEI bills in Texas to voucher pushes in Tennessee, families, educators, and students are rising up to say: Our schools are not for sale!
Public Education is the Bedrock of Democracy
Public schools don’t just prepare students for jobs, they prepare them for life in a democracy. They teach critical thinking, empathy, and the ability to engage with others across differences. That’s why they’re under attack. Extremists fear a generation of young people who understand their rights, know their history, and are ready to lead. But we’re not backing down. We’re fighting for public schools that build a multiracial democracy—one that works for all of us.
Connecting Our Schools to the Movement
May Day is about educators and the families we serve. When educators join workers from other sectors, we’re demanding a society that taxes the rich to fully funds public services our students rely on, like healthcare, housing, and safe schools.
Business as usual isn’t working. When we collectively say ‘no school’ for one day, we force the state to recognize educators are a critical part of our labor force. May Day is an opportunity to show our power.
Safety and Legal Concerns
Many of us are planning to use our earned personal days. This is a legitimate way to exercise our civic rights while following district protocols. We aren’t ‘abandoning’ our posts; we are choosing to use our time to advocate for public schools, the students we serve and the educators and staff who make our systems work.
We are exercising our First Amendment rights. As educators, we have a responsibility to model for our students what it looks like to stand up for justice in a democracy.
Invest in Your Child’s Future
If my child’s teacher is burnt out, underpaid, or unsupported, my child’s education suffers. We stand with teachers because they deserve to be paid fairly, respected as professionals and create supportive learning environments for my kid to grow in. A one-day absence is a small sacrifice compared to the long-term cost of losing our best teachers to nonpublic school systems or professions.
This is a living civics lesson. I want my child to see that when something is wrong, you don’t just complain—you show up, speak out, and use your voice alongside your community. We are sending a unified letter to the administration explaining that our children are absent for a ‘Day of Civic Action.’ This isn’t a random skip day; it’s an intentional choice.
The “day of action” continues! We invite everyone to keep our message visible all year long:
