After more than four months of political impasse, Governor Josh Shapiro signed the Pennsylvania state budget for the next year on November 12th.
For students across Pennsylvania, this budget includes key education provisions. $665 million in new funding is allocated to public schools, with the majority directed to chronically underfunded districts. This follows a 2023 court ruling that found the state’s school funding system unconstitutional.
The budget also creates a new Working Pennsylvanians Tax Credit that gives families earning less than $70,000 a tax break. That money is essential in the wake of rising health insurance premiums and uncertainty about food assistance programs nationwide.
“In a divided legislature, we proved once again that Democrats and Republicans can come together to get stuff done for the good people of Pennsylvania,” said Shapiro in a press release from the Governor’s Press Office.
The compromises required to secure the necessary votes included withdrawing from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, leaving Pennsylvania without any significant restrictions on emissions. Another funding shortfall affected public transit, potentially leaving thousands of students and workers in and around Philadelphia without the reliable transportation they need.
The four-month delay meant schools, counties, and social services didn’t receive state payments since July, creating financial strain for many districts. Morrisville School District in Bucks County, who rely on state funding for about half its budget, was at risk of shutting down by January if the budget did not pass.
“Negotiating this budget took time, but the result builds on two years of progress and creates real opportunity for our fellow Pennsylvanians,” said Lieutenant Governor Austin Davis in a press release from the Governor’s Press Office.
Lawmakers on both sides emphasized that getting money flowing to schools and communities was critical. For Pennsylvania students, the increased funding represents a step towards more equitable access to education.
Our lawmakers are meant to represent us. If you have any feedback on the state budget, you can contact your legislator by phone using the number on the Pennsylvania Legislature website.
