(The Center Square) – Gov. Josh Shapiro’s budget proposal aims to build on the inertia begun with last year’s investment in the state’s education system to the tune of $525 million, a figure Republican legislators say is unsustainable.
The state’s schools are facing a $4.5 billion adequacy gap. The commonwealth’s new adequacy formula determines which schools are behind and by how much, but it does not address where the money comes from.
Still, the increase has been touted as the biggest bipartisan achievement of the divided state government.
“Over the last two years, we haven’t shied away from hard conversations or solving complex problems. Case in point, how we reformed the way we fund public education,” said Shapiro. “We knew that was a problem and we agreed the old system was unconstitutional.”
In fact, the task of determining that the state’s funding was unconstitutionally inequitable fell to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court after nearly a decade of litigation. The court ruled against legislators, the Department of Education, and former Gov. Tom Wolf. The ruling stood when Republicans declined to appeal.
House Minority Leader Jesse Topper, R-Bedford, agreed that the state has a legal obligation to address the issues with its public schools, but he pointed out that solutions need to involve “more than just spending money,” in his response to Shapiro’s address.
Topper also cautioned against over-projecting revenue from new income streams, like taxing skill games or expanding marijuana sales to all adults. His party has so far been resistant to passing legislation on either issue, favoring deregulation in sectors like energy as a means of economic growth.
This year’s proposed investment specifically allocated to adequacy mirrors last year’s. The governor also proposed a $75 million increase to basic education funding, a $5.5 million increase for Career and Technical Education, and a $40 million increase in special education.
While educators say it’s far too soon to tell how this year’s influx of funding is impacting students, early signs leave them optimistic. The increased funding has allowed school districts to add more staff and expand programming in areas like special education, foreign languages, and even school counseling.
The governor described a recent visit to Harrison-Morton Middle School in Allentown, where students enjoyed new mental health resources, updated instruments and uniforms for their band program, and a new HVAC system.
Across the commonwealth, out-of-date and unsafe facilities remain a major concern and one of the primary focuses of the Basic Education Funding Commission. The governor proposes a $25 million increase, totaling $125 million, for school repairs.
Another focus of Shapiro’s budget proposal begins to address troubling behavioral and mental health trends with $111 million in funding toward school safety and mental health grants. Outside of the state’s basic education budget, these resources are allocated through the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency.
Universal free school breakfasts and funding toward period products in schools are also extended in the proposed budget.
A $20 million increase is proposed to bring funding for student teacher stipends to a total of $40 million.
