Governor Josh Shapiro proposed his 2023-24 executive budget on March 7, 2023, acknowledging the critical task ahead for Pennsylvania lawmakers and advocates, who are collectively charged with taking steps toward the goal of ensuring that all students, no matter where they live, have the resources necessary to receive an adequate and equitable public education.

With an historic Commonwealth Court ruling declaring the school funding system in Pennsylvania to be unconstitutional and the $12 billion available in state surplus and reserves, this year offers a rare opportunity to present a budget that does more than keep up with inflation. The wide, unconstitutional funding gap, estimated to be more than $4 billion, took years to create, and the Governor acknowledged that the budget proposal does not provide the funding necessary to fix it.

Pennsylvania leaders know that this year’s final budget must ultimately go beyond the Governor’s proposal to demonstrate a serious commitment to fixing what the Court has affirmed – an unconstitutional system. We are eager to get started.

PA Schools Work has proposed a much greater investment in school funding this year, including:

• $700 million for Basic Education Funding
• $230 million for Special Education
• $300 million for Level Up
• $1 billion over two years for school facilities
• $214 million for Career & Technical Education

We look forward to working with legislative leaders and Governor Shapiro toward these achievable goals in this year’s budget.