Shapiro Promotes Education Funding Gains in Susquehanna Township

Governor Josh Shapiro visited Susquehanna Township High School on March 15, 2024, to emphasize the positive effects of recent increases in education funding. His visit comes as the state prepares for its next budget cycle, which could spark further debates over educational financing. Shapiro engaged with students and teachers for over an hour before delivering formal remarks in the high school library. He also signed a commemorative copy of the budget legislation finalized in November, which ended a four-month fiscal impasse in Pennsylvania.

The recently approved budget included over $700 million in new baseline K-12 assistance for school districts, along with additional savings from revised funding mechanisms for students attending cyber charter schools. This financial boost continues a trend initiated under former Governor Tom Wolf and is a direct response to a landmark court ruling that identified Pennsylvania’s school funding system as unconstitutionally inequitable.

As a result, many of the state’s neediest districts have benefited significantly. Shapiro highlighted the case of Susquehanna Township, which saw its state aid rise from just over $7 million to more than $12 million in the latest budget. He remarked, “I really think Susquehanna Township is a model for what we should be doing in other school districts across Pennsylvania,” commending the district’s effective utilization of these financial resources.

Under the leadership of Superintendent Tamara Willis, the district has allocated funds to hire additional school counselors and special education instructors, addressing the increasing needs of students requiring extra support. The district has also invested in upgrading outdated heating and cooling systems, improving classroom comfort amid rising energy costs.

One noteworthy initiative is the district’s Cadet Teacher Program, which has recently expanded its size. This job training program allows high school students to serve as teaching assistants in elementary schools. Some participants are subsequently hired by the district, while others pursue degrees in education. Student Cole Hunsberger, who is involved in the program, shared an inspiring moment when one of his kindergarten students learned to pronounce the letter “G.” He expressed, “I’ll never forget that, seeing her face light up… it was one of the reasons why I want to do this, to see the students connect the dots and learn from their hard work.”

The funding increases discussed by Shapiro represent approximately a 7% rise in K-12 education allocations in the new state budget compared to the previous year. The most significant increase addresses the recently established adequacy and tax equity funding formulas, designed to remedy funding shortfalls identified by the court ruling. For Susquehanna Township, the budget provided nearly $1.9 million in additional adequacy funding, totaling around $675 per student when considering all funding sources.

Political discussions surrounding these funding increases have been contentious, with Pennsylvania’s Democratic-majority House and Republican-majority Senate often at odds. Republicans criticized Shapiro’s budget proposal as excessive, arguing it could lead the state into a fiscal deficit. The recently passed budget amounted to $50.1 billion from the state’s general fund, reflecting a year-over-year increase of approximately 4.7% in core allocations.

Negotiations for the budget were influenced by non-education-related items, such as an agreement to exit a greenhouse gas cap-and-trade system and the implementation of a bipartisan tax credit for low-income workers. Looking ahead, Shapiro and his Democratic allies are expected to face similar challenges as they prepare the budget request for the 2026-27 fiscal year, likely seeking further education funding in line with the court’s ruling.

When asked about potential resistance from Senate Republicans regarding education spending, Shapiro responded, “I don’t know that it is useful for me to get into the back and forth we had behind the scenes,” emphasizing the importance of continued dialogue and advocacy for public education. Senator Patty Kim noted that while the recent budget agreement was broadly bipartisan, there remains skepticism about the necessity for continued education funding increases. She pointed out that her district includes some of the state’s most financially challenged school systems, and even districts like Susquehanna Township struggle to meet rising educational demands. Kim remarked, “We need to have the support from the state.”