HARRISBURG, PA — The Pennsylvania governor’s budget proposal for 2024-25 contains a $1.8 billion increase for public schools, including additional dollars for the most underfunded schools, 

Gov. Josh Shapiro said his proposed budget will begin reversing the unconstitutional underfunding of K-12 public education. School district fact sheets present what each of Pennsylvania’s 500 school districts will receive under the governor’s proposal.

“Public schools will get more resources needed to hire and keep great teachers, reduce class sizes, repair and upgrade schools, and provide mental health support and special education,” Shapiro said.

PA Schools Work, a nonpartisan statewide movement working to make sure public schools are fully and fairly funded, has released the fact sheets ahead of its annual Advocacy Day in Harrisburg that will bring more than 600 advocates from dozens of school districts to call on lawmakers to finish the job and fund Pennsylvania’s public schools in compliance with the Commonwealth Court order.

The state has $14 billion available in surplus and reserves, presenting the best opportunity to make a major investment toward repairing the state’s broken public school funding system, Shapiro said.

PA Schools Work said the Pennsylvania courts found public school funding unconstitutional “because the quality of students’ education is determined by their zip code. Now, lawmakers in Harrisburg are debating a historic $1.8 billion increase for public schools as a first step toward delivering on the promise of a great education for every child.”

The Wayne Highlands, Wallenpaupack, and Delaware Valley school districts will receive funds for special education and balance the district budget by cutting exorbitant cyber charter costs. In addition, Delaware Valley will receive $5.4 million over the next seven years to address the district’s high property tax burden through a tax equity supplement.

2024-25 basic education funding increase

Wallenpaupack: $338,270

Wayne Highlands: $338,171

Delaware Valley: $345,359

2024-25 special education funding increase

Wallenpaupack: $34,073

Wayne Highlands: $28,290

Delaware Valley: $123,079

2024-25 savings from reducing cyber charter overspending

Wallenpaupack: $982,820

Wayne Highlands: 1.3 million

Delaware Valley: $862,674

New basic education funding base increase

Wallenpaupack: $3.5 million

Wayne Highlands: $3.3 million

Total one-year increase and savings

Wallenpaupack: $1.4 million

Wayne Highlands: $1.7 million

Delaware Valley: $2.1 million

Tax equity supplement

Delaware Valley: $5.4 million (over seven years)

Source: PA Schools Work Fact Sheets