Pennsylvania Schools Demand $2 Billion Increase in Education Funding

Schools threaten to return to court over funding shortfalls, following last year's ruling that the state's school-funding system is unconstitutional.

Pennsylvania schools that won a significant school funding court case last year are prepared to return to court if the Legislature and governor don’t adequately address shortfalls in the state's $35 billion school-funding system, which was declared unconstitutional.
Lawyers for the schools are urging the Legislature to announce a multiyear funding plan, proposing an additional $2 billion to public education funds in this budget, followed by $1 billion a year for each of the next four years.
Public schools in Pennsylvania are currently underfunded by roughly $6.2 billion, according to the lawyers for the schools and public education advocates.
The proposal follows a court ruling last year that the state’s school-funding system is unconstitutional and shortchanges students in poor zip codes.
The commission, composed of lawmakers and members of Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro’s administration, is set to conclude two months of work and 11 hearings with a final report.