Billion-dollar hike in Pa. school spending doesn't buy universal support

Jul. 12—HARRISBURG — Pennsylvania's public schools are positioned to receive a $1.2 billion increase in the commonwealth's new $47.6 billion budget, a boost met with lukewarm enthusiasm for falling short of what advocates sought and criticism from legislative conservatives for lacking a voucher plan.

An estimated $850 million is tabbed for K-12 classroom spending in 2024-25, including an extra $100 million for special education.

Hundreds of the state's poorest schools will share in nearly $494 million to backfill an "adequacy gap" in the state's per-student investment, with another $32.2 million in property tax equity supplements for school districts identified as overburdened.

All 500 school districts share a $225 million increase in basic education subsidies, with the funds distributed through the Fair Funding Formula based on student and community needs.

There's an additional $100 million each for initiatives focused on mental health and school security, facility improvements and a new cyber charter school reimbursement. Plus, changes to the formula for cyber charter school funding paid by local school districts will create an estimated $34.5 million in 2025 for a half-year and future full-year savings of $69 million.

"This budget helps us make a significant downpayment on the Commonwealth Court ruling that says that how we fund our schools is unconstitutional," House Majority Appropriations Chair Jordan Harris, D-Philadelphia, said during floor remarks.

All Valley state representatives voted against the education code bill. All state senators voted for the education code bill.

Private school vouchers

What's not included in the budget are private school vouchers, which Republicans sought to provide to families of students attending schools in the bottom 15% in academics — previously referred to as Lifeline Scholarships. However, two tax credit programs supporting private school scholarships and tuition assistance were boosted by $75 million, raising the combined limit for both to $630 million.

The lack of vouchers isn't lost on Republicans like Rep. Aaron Bernstine, R-Lawrence/Butler, who said during floor remarks what legislative conservatives have warned this year — that the budget will drain Pennsylvania's surplus savings, bring about tax increases and continue to leave families without universal school choice.

Rep. Marla Brown, R-Lawrence, said enhanced accountability is lacking for the increased spending on public schools.

"That's been the issue all along which is why we really wanted the Lifeline Scholarships (a voucher program) which I'm horrified to see has been taken off the table. There was not even any mention of it and this was such a big deal for us and my constituents to have a choice," Brown said.

Boost fails to meet high court's funding requirement

The education funding increase is substantial, a record in several respects, but it's not commensurate to what Gov. Josh Shapiro sought in his budget proposal or the multi-year funding commitment education advocates along with legislative Democrats called for in light of the Commonwealth Court ruling in 2023 that found Pennsylvania's funding system to be unconstitutional.

The adequacy and tax equity supplements are one-time investments rather than an established funding source for school years ahead. Without an established framework to guarantee future spending increases, a return to court remains in play.

A statement from the PA Schools Work coalition said the approved expenditures fill nearly 11% of a $4.5 billion adequacy gap and significant investments are needed to comply with the court ruling.

A joint statement from the Education Law Center & Public Interest Law Center, which helped lead the landmark litigation, expressed gratitude for the funding and its short-term impact but was critical of a lack of an established long-term plan.

"Students need public schools that provide the support they need to reach meaningful opportunities today, not some day in the far future. And the same budget legislation that admits the scope of the commonwealth's constitutional shortfall still leaves nearly 90 percent of that hole to be filled by some undefined date in the future, or not at all," the statement reads.

Greater Johnstown School District was among the plaintiffs that fought in court for changes to the funding system. It will reap results this year including the receipt of nearly $2.9 million in adequacy funds, nearly $770,000 combined in cyber charter reimbursement and savings and a near 5% boost in basic education subsidies to $29 million.

Crawford Central School District is set for more than $887,000 in adequacy funds, plus more than $530,000 in cyber charter savings and reimbursement and 2.4% more in subsidies, rising above $20 million.

An additional $1.2 million is bound for New Castle School District in adequacy payments, $330,000 in cyber charter savings and reimbursement. Its basic education subsidy will grow by 3.2% to $34 million.

Sharon School District's adequacy boost exceeds $631,000 and its combined savings and reimbursement for cyber charter schools tops $410,000, with basic education subsidies rising to $21.7 million, up 3.2%. Farrell School District receives a tax equity payment of more than $67,000 but nothing toward an adequacy gap. Its subsidy for basic education rises by 4.7% to $12 million.

Shikellamy School District's basic education subsidy will grow by 3.4% to more than $17 million, Its adequacy gap supplement exceeds $1.7 million while its combined savings and reimbursement for cyber charter schools tops $280,000.

Rep. Carl Walker Metzgar, R-Somerset, voted against the budget bill but supported the education code bill directing how school funding is used. There was plenty in the code he didn't like, he said, but it included other aspects he supported including charter school funding reform and grant funding for the hiring of school security, including armed security, that was part of a bill he previously introduced.

"You don't get everything you can but at the end of the day there were compromises on a number of issues," Metzgar said.