State Legislature Must Support and Build on Governor’s Education Investment Plan, Accelerate the Timeline for Closing Pennsylvania’s Unconstitutional Adequacy Gap
HARRISBURG, PA – The PA Schools Work Campaign, a coalition of 17 organizations from across Pennsylvania representing thousands of educators, parents, and community members from urban, rural, and suburban communities working together to increase funding for PA public schools, made the following statement regarding Governor Josh Shapiro’s proposed 2026-27 executive budget:
“Education advocates throughout Pennsylvania applaud Governor Shapiro’s ongoing dedication to establishing a constitutionally sound public school funding system. As Governor Shapiro noted in his remarks, the beneficial effects of investments aimed at narrowing the adequacy gap are already evident in schools statewide, proving that focused investments deliver results for Pennsylvania students.
“The governor’s budget proposal allocates half a billion dollars in new adequacy funding to the 363 rural, urban, and suburban school districts most in need of state support through Ready to Learn block grants. This proposal represents another step toward compliance with the state court mandate to address the underfunding of low-wealth schools. By directing the vast majority of new public school funding to districts with the greatest needs, the Governor demonstrates responsible stewardship of taxpayer resources.
“While the proposed increase maintains momentum, the state would still need to close a $3.3 billion adequacy gap identified by the governor and legislature. With 70% of Pennsylvania public school students in districts facing adequacy gaps, the partners in this campaign will work with the House and Senate to build on this proposal and accelerate progress toward closing the gap.
“Also important, expanding on last year’s critical cyber charter reforms, Governor Shapiro’s proposal includes additional savings for school districts that will bring the total annual savings from these reforms to $250 million.
“This education funding proposal should be understood within the context of the challenging conditions public schools face and the real financial limitations that hinder their ability to succeed, rather than a simple line-by-line analysis. The final budget agreement must incorporate, and often surpass, the additional educational investments and reforms presented in the governor’s budget to shield schools from rising costs due to inflation. This includes further funding for basic education and special education, along with school infrastructure and pre-kindergarten initiatives. It should also include critical resources for career and technical education programs that help train students through a combination of classroom instruction and hands-on learning
“Students deserve properly funded public schools. The evidence from investments over the last few years is clear: when we properly fund our schools, students excel. We’ve witnessed this impact across rural, urban, and suburban communities, where schools are using these resources responsibly to help students reach their full potential. We must fulfill our constitutional responsibility to provide adequate and equitable funding for all Pennsylvania students. Our coalition stands ready to work with Governor Shapiro and the General Assembly to reach that goal.”