Education leaders, city officials respond to Gov. Shapiro’s first budget address
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Loading... - Elise Blanchet
- 10 Mar 2023
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Following Gov. Josh Shapiro’s first budget address, Philadelphia city officials and education leaders have responded to the administration’s plans for education funding.
Shapiro presented his $44.4 billion budget to the General Assembly Tuesday. In his proposal he addressed education funding, property tax relief for seniors and small businesses.
He called for $567.4 million or 7.8% more for basic education funding, which will go through the Fair Funding Formula, and $103.8 million for children with disabilities or special needs.
The budget will allocate $38.5 million to continue the universal free breakfast program for all Pennsylvania students regardless of their income. Shapiro is seeking $500 million to improve mental health services in schools
He also suggested funneling $500 million to districts over the next five years to reduce and remediate environmental hazards in schools and $105 million for school safety and security grants through the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency’s School Safety and Security Committee.
Shapiro is proposing $23.8 million to build partnerships between Career and Technical Education (CTE) and industries, trades and entities that need workers from those programs.
The proposal also included a $60 million increase for higher education with $1.6 million to support parenting postsecondary schools and $29.8 million for state-related universities.
The governor’s budget proposal comes after the Commonwealth Court ruled last month that Pennsylvania’s system for funding K-12 education is unconstitutional. Read More…
