{"id":126247,"date":"2023-12-28T18:04:04","date_gmt":"2023-12-28T23:04:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/?p=126247"},"modified":"2023-12-28T18:04:04","modified_gmt":"2023-12-28T23:04:04","slug":"pa-house-democrats-deliver-investing-in-a-quality-education-for-pa-students","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/?p=126247","title":{"rendered":"PA House Democrats Deliver: Investing in a Quality Education for PA Students"},"content":{"rendered":"

HARRISBURG, Dec. 28 \u2013<\/strong>\u00a0Ensuring that Pennsylvania students have access to a quality public education is a top priority for the Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus. This year<\/a>, House Democrats championed record investments in K-12 public education\u00a0<\/a>while starting to fulfill the legislature\u2019s constitutional obligation to adequately and equitably fund public schools.<\/p>\n

The 2023-24 state budget, which was finalized earlier this month, includes a\u00a0record $567 million basic education funding increase<\/strong>\u00a0for Pennsylvania school districts.<\/p>\n

Additionally, the approved budget includes $175 million to fix school buildings to ensure that students, teachers and staff are learning and working in a safe environment.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor the first time in nearly a decade, the General Assembly has recognized the need for funding that allows school districts to address facility repairs and upgrades,\u201d said House Education Committee Majority Chairman Peter Schweyer, D-Lehigh. \u201cAs a father of two in the Allentown School District, I have seen firsthand the need for funding so schools can provide the safe and comfortable learning environments that parents expect and children deserve.\u201d<\/p>\n

The approved budget also includes $100 million for school-based mental health resources for students, $46.5 million increase to provide universal free breakfast to 1.7 million Pennsylvania K-12 students and $10 million to strengthen the teacher workforce through student teacher stipends.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo kid can learn on an empty stomach \u2013 but they come to school hungry for a variety of reasons, from financial instability to a hectic family schedule,\u201d said Rep. Lisa Borowski, D-Delaware. \u201cFunding universal free breakfast is a commonsense investment into their success and an investment into the future for all of us.\u201d<\/p>\n

However, with a year remaining in the 2023-24 legislative session, there is more that Pennsylvania could use to ensure that students have access to a quality public education.<\/p>\n

Following a Commonwealth Court decision this year finding that the General Assembly failed for decades, under a majority of Republican control, to adequately and equitably fund public schools as required by the Pennsylvania Constitution, the Basic Education Funding Commission held a series of public hearings to gather important testimony from stakeholders across the state. The bipartisan and bicameral commission, which is tasked with providing recommendations for adequately and equitably funding our public schools, will submit a report with its findings in January, when the legislature will also begin discussions on the budget for the next fiscal year.<\/p>\n

House Democrats also have\u00a0passed numerous bills with bipartisan support to invest in education and address the teaching workforce shortage. They are currently awaiting action in the Pennsylvania Senate, including on:<\/p>\n