ALLENTOWN, Pa. — Local state lawmakers are reacting to Gov. Josh Shapiro’s call for $1 billion in new public education spending for the state’s students and schools.
In Shapiro’s first budget address as Pennsylvania's chief executive, he proposed adding $567 million to basic education funding, an increase of nearly 8%. He also called for boosting special education support by $100 million and wants to invest hundreds of millions in mental health and school safety.
- Gov. Josh Shapiro is calling for about $1 billion in money for schools and students
- His plan increases basic education funding by $567 million
- Some advocates said they hoped for more after last month's historic court ruling
“There’s no question that it’s an excellent starting point,” Democratic Rep. Mike Schlossberg said. “I think what made me happiest was that the governor himself acknowledged it was a starting point.”
Shapiro described the $567 million for basic education funding as a “down payment” in light of the recent Commonwealth court ruling that students lack equal access to quality education across the state. The court found the state underfunds poorer districts and has required the governor and state lawmakers to develop a solution. Some advocates and low-income school districts argue far more money than what Shapiro has suggested is needed to address the systemic inequalities.
Bethlehem Area School District would see about a $5.4 million bump in basic education dollars, a rise of 11.6%. It would see an increase of $874,200 for special education, a jump of 9.5%.
Allentown School District would net nearly $14 million more in basic education money under Shapiro’s plan, an 8.1% boost. It would take in almost $2.2 million in special education funding, a rise of 14.7%.
Parkland School District would get about $2.1 million in basic education funding in the governor’s proposal. Easton Area School District would receive about $2.5 million.
Bethlehem Schools Superintendent Joe Roy said the overall proposal appears solid. But he said the basic education allocation isn’t the robust figure he thinks the court victory last month called for.
“This is an incremental increase,” Roy said. “And some people felt that the state had the money to make, especially in the wake of the case, a more transformative increase.”
Republican State Sen. Jarrett Coleman said he was disappointed with the governor’s education budget proposal.
“I don’t think we have a funding problem,” he said. “I think we have a spending problem in school districts.”
Coleman said he wanted to hear Shapiro talk about ”lifeline scholarships,” where students in low-performing schools would be able to use state aid to attend a school of their choice. An idea favored by school choice advocates, Shapiro expressed openness to the concept during his campaign.
“Kids can’t learn properly when they’re going to school in buildings that have no air conditioning or heat or frankly have asbestos in the walls.”State Rep. Josh Siegel
Democratic Sen. Lisa Boscola said she will advocate for cuts in property taxes if the state spends more on education.
“If you invest in education and if you’re going to give huge amounts at the state level toward education, then you’re going to have to have a dollar-for-dollar reduction in property taxes,” Boscola said. “Because back home where I live in the Lehigh Valley, they will not tolerate a budget that gives billions of dollars toward education without reducing property taxes dollar-for-dollar."
Democratic Rep. Josh Seigel's district includes the Allentown School District. He praised the governor’s proposed funding for capital projects. ASD’s oldest buildings date back to when Ulysses S. Grant was president.
“Improving the building themselves and the school structures is nothing short of historic and absolutely necessary,” he said. “Kids can’t learn properly when they’re going to school in buildings that have no air conditioning or heat or frankly have asbestos in the walls.”
Democratic State Sen. Nick Miller said he looks forward to working with the governor’s office on his education budget proposals, including money for school buildings.
