EXCLUSIVE

Former "Reading Rainbow" host LeVar Burton is PISSED after Mitt Romney threatened to cut PBS funding last night -- telling TMZ, Romney would be stealing an invaluable educational resource from underprivileged children.

LeVar tells us, "I am personally outraged that any serious contender for the White House would target as part of his campaign the children of America in this fashion."

"Educators across the country, as well as millions of children and adults know that the programming on PBS has been responsible for significant improvements in education, literacy, math, science and life skills for generations of our children."

In case you missed the Presidential debate, Mitt promised to cut funding to PBS claiming it isn't an essential government expense -- but LeVar's firing back, claiming, "PBS represents .00016% of our nation's budget, yet this free resource benefits kids across all economic circumstances."

He adds, "Defunding PBS directly punishes the less fortunate by removing this trusted and extraordinary educational resource available to all."