HARRISBURG – Senate Appropriations Committee members highlighted numerous concerns related to education funding and declining student achievement during a budget hearing with the Department of Education today.
Gov. Josh Shapiro’s $51.5 billion spending plan for Fiscal Year 2025-26 features a 7.5% spending increase over the current year. Senate Republicans have previously projected that Shapiro’s spending plan would create a funding shortfall of more than $27 billion over the next five years.
Department of Education
Gov. Shapiro is proposing nearly $18.5 billion in funding for the Department of Education, an increase of $860 million, or nearly 5%, over the current year. His budget would also increase spending for the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) by more than $40 million and for the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) by more than $20 million.
Video Highlights
Lawmakers shared the need for greater accountability for the billions in additional funding put into education while student achievement has lagged.
The meaning of the Commonwealth Court ruling in the school funding case – including the need for real reform – was discussed.
Recent assessments have shown declining student performance in key areas like literacy. Ways to boost student achievement were discussed.
Declining proficiency in reading and math have pushed more parents into pursuing cyber charter education for their kids and other educational opportunities.
Issues were raised regarding Governor Shapiro’s proposed statewide cyber charter reimbursement rate of $8,000.
Options were discussed to achieve parity in cyber charter funding.
The Acting Secretary of Education testified that she has had no discussions with Governor Shapiro in relation to the Lifeline Scholarships he claims to support. Lifeline Scholarships were line-item vetoed by Governor Shapiro in 2023 and excluded from all his budget proposals.
The importance of career and technical centers, apprenticeships and other job-training programs was highlighted.
The failure to account for school district growth rate in determining adequacy funding formulas was discussed.
Bloated staff salaries on the new State Board of Higher Education were questioned, along with the lack of actual output.
The need for more teachers and emergency certifications for teachers were discussed.
Concerns regarding school safety were raised. Mental health supports for students were also discussed.
Questions were raised about school districts’ compliance with President Trump’s Executive Order aimed at protecting women’s sports.
Concerns were voiced about library funding.
You can find recaps and video from every Senate budget hearing at PASenateGOP.com.
CONTACT: Jason Thompson