The Pennsylvania Supreme Court challenged lawmakers to focus on the disparities in tax bases across districts and how the state does not adequately equalize for those disparities. In essence, Pennsylvania falls short of providing for the maintenance and support of a thorough and efficient system of public education.  The Basic Education Funding Commission also fell short of providing a fair funding model, and actually, under the Governor’s Fiscal Year 2024-2025 budget, created greater disparity in the adequacy gap.

In the near future, I intend to address the unique needs of each student and prioritize those student characteristics with additional resources, rather than district characteristics, outside of a failing system of state funding.  This will be a major policy shift in how Pennsylvania funds public education.

The legislation seeks to provide school funding that is student-centered, flexible, and structured, focusing on funding, rather than spending, by school districts.  The legislation reduces bureaucratic roadblocks, while maintaining state funding under the reforms being made, and provides direct funding for career and technical education.

The new model proposed in my legislation will give each student a better opportunity to succeed than they have now under our existing plan.

Please join me in cosponsoring this transformative legislation.