The Pennsylvania Legislature has passed the 2025-26 state budget, which is now awaiting Governor Josh Shapiro’s signature. The budget includes several provisions aimed at supporting public education in the state.
Key elements of the budget are a $565 million increase for public schools as part of ongoing efforts to address Pennsylvania’s unconstitutional school funding system. There is also a $105 million boost in basic education funding and a $40 million increase for special education across all public schools. Public school districts will benefit from $178 million in cyber charter tuition savings. The budget allocates $30 million for student teacher stipends, compensating them during their 12-week teaching experience. School facilities will receive $125 million, with at least $25 million dedicated to Solar for Schools initiatives. Additionally, $100 million is set aside for school safety and mental health grants.
PSEA President Aaron Chapin responded to the passage of the budget by stating: “We commend Gov. Shapiro and lawmakers from both parties for once again showing a remarkably strong commitment to public education in this budget.
“This responsible, balanced plan reflects a spirit of compromise, while taking another major step toward fixing our unconstitutional public school funding system and supporting this year’s class of student teachers.
“Since he was sworn in as governor, Josh Shapiro has worked with legislators of both parties to secure more than $2 billion in new funding to help students across Pennsylvania. This commonsense leadership is creating smaller class sizes, an expansion of early childhood education, and historic resources for our most underfunded schools.
“Given the blatant attacks on public education throughout the country, Pennsylvania has shown what we can achieve with a bipartisan vision for the future that values our students, schools, and educators.
“Now that this budget is close to final, public school educators and their students are eager to see state funding start flowing to their schools to support critical educational programs, after-school enrichment, early childhood education, and many other services. We hope that the commonwealth will expedite state funding payments to all public schools so that they can continue to meet the educational needs of their students.”
Aaron Chapin serves as president of PSEA and teaches at Stroudsburg Area middle school. PSEA represents about 177,000 active and retired educators and school employees in Pennsylvania as an affiliate of the National Education Association.
