PA Schools’ $5B Funding Gap Detailed In New Commission Report

HARRISBURG, PA - Pennsylvania K-12 schools are underfunded by $5.4 billion and should work to close the gap immediately over the next seven years, according to a new recommendations report narrowly approved last week by a state commission.

The 15-member Basic Education Funding Commission approved its 2024 report Thursday in a 8-7 vote, with recommendations ranging from increased funding to literacy programs and mental health services, charter schools and universal preschool across the Keystone State's 500 school districts serving 1.7 million students.

“This report calls for reducing the volatility in the formula, allowing for consistency and predictability,” Basic Education Funding Commission co-chair Rep. Mike Sturla said, adding the report also considers important issues outside the formula like career and technical education, public libraries, transportation, school safety, special education, technology and more.

You can read the full report here.

The commission report’s “aggressive timeline” will provide a “comprehensive remedy to generations of students who are harmed by our unconstitutional public education system,” Sen. Lindsey Williams said moments before the Thursday vote.

“This is our opportunity to get this right.”

The commission’s report, which was compiled based on testimonies from educators, researchers, administrators and other stakeholders, found the median spending by successful schools is $13,704 per student.

Last year’s state budget allocated $7.87 billion in basic funding for schools, or roughly $4,630 per student. Gov. Josh Shapiro proposed a 7.8% increase in basic education funding last year "on par with recent inflationary and cost-of-living growth," plus increases for special education and higher education.

The calculation is still short of what six school districts that won a historic court case in 2023 (which ruled Pennsylvania’s school funding system unconstitutional) have proposed: a funding increase of $6.2 billion over five years.

The funding gap isn't equal across socioeconomic lines, either, according to analyses conducted by The Public Interest Law Center. 51% of the total gap in education funding statewide affects the state’s poorest districts serving 20% of the student population, according to one report. Read more: Shapiro School Budget 'A Step Backwards' For Poor Students: Advocates

Republicans largely led the opposition at the Thursday vote, with critic House Minority Leader Bryan Cutler (R-Lancaster) calling the recommendations a “simple spend more money” solution, according to the Associated Press.

Conversely, teachers unions and lawyers for districts from 2023 court case applauded the report, per the outlet.

“This is the end of the beginning,” Sturla said. “There’s still a whole lot of work to do. We’ve got a whole lot to happen between now and the next budget, as well as the next seven budgets beyond that.”

Shapiro’s next annual budget proposal is slated for Feb. 6.

Watch the full meeting below: