Shapiro considers school vouchers 'unfinished business'

Aug. 8—PENN HILLS — Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro touted historic increases in spending on public education Tuesday and despite cutting additional dollars to kickstart a proposed school voucher program, he reiterated his support for the concept.

"I consider that to be unfinished business, something the House and Senate need to keep working on," Shapiro said during a ceremonial budget bill signing at Penn Hills Elementary School in Allegheny County.

The new $45.5 billion state budget includes a $567 million increase in basic education funding, the main source of state money for school operations. Shapiro called it the largest single-year increase in Pennsylvania history.

Additionally, there's a $50 million increase in special education funding and an additional $46.5 million to provide free breakfast for all public school students regardless of their household income.

As Shapiro said, however, there remains unfinished business.

The general appropriations bill was signed into law by Shapiro last week after a monthlong impasse concerning school vouchers. Some proposed spending must be authorized through legislative action including $100 million in Level Up funding for the state's poorest school districts, $100 million for school mental health grants and $10 million for student-teacher stipends.

The Shapiro administration estimates approximately $430 million remains outstanding within the budget. Senate Republican leaders estimated at least $1.1 billion in spending needs approval through the ratification of fiscal code bills and related legislative work.

The hangup on the state budget was spurred by Shapiro's pledge, which he carried through, to veto $100 million for school vouchers, titled the Pennsylvania Award for Students Success Scholarship Program (PASS).

Republicans criticized Shapiro for eliminating the funding, which they say was directly negotiated with Shapiro, and accused him of breaking a promise. The governor, however, has said there was never an agreement between him and the Senate, and that the two chambers of the General Assembly had failed to broker an agreement on vouchers.

On Tuesday, Shapiro said the state House and Senate have more to work on beyond the budget. He cited raising the state's stagnant minimum wage, opening a legal window to allow victims of long-ago sexual abuse to sue perpetrators and enablers in court, and amending state law to include "sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression" as expressly prohibited types of discrimination.

As to vouchers, the $100 million sought by Senate Republicans is out of the budget.

"It's certainly a concept I support. I think it's important that we fully fund our schools and we give children who are struggling in difficult situations more opportunity to learn. It's a fair disagreement, I know, with some people. We've got to continue to work together and find common ground on that and other issues," Shapiro said.

House Republican Spokesperson Jason Gottesman pointed out in a press release that Penn Hills Elementary School would have qualified for the PASS program.

Once known as Lifeline Scholarships, the PASS proposal sought to provide from $2,500 to $10,000 to students based on grade-level, and $15,000 for all special education students, who have a household income at or below 250% of the federal poverty line and who attend public schools that rank in the bottom 15% academically. Money could be used for private school tuition. Funding is separate from what's provided for public schools.

"Gov. Shapiro's appearance at Penn Hills Elementary School perpetuates the Democratic myth that funding is the only solution to every problem with Pennsylvania's education system. Today's event, held at a failing school, is nothing but a reminder of the biggest missed opportunity in this budget — the failure to transform our education system so that it will truly be a child-first, family-focused experience," Gottesman said.