The Pennsylvania School Boards Association (PSBA) is pleased that Governor Wolf and the legislature have partnered to invest over $1 billion additional dollars into public schools as part of the 2022-23 state budget agreement. This additional funding is essential to help pay for the significant mandates placed on public schools and ensure additional resources are directed into the classroom.
“In spite of the challenges they’ve faced over the past couple of years, public schools have risen to the challenge and continued to provide tremendous educational programs and services to 1.7 million students in the commonwealth,” said PSBA CEO Nathan Mains. “This budget recognizes those challenges and will provide schools with the necessary resources to meet the needs of their students and communities.”
PSBA applauds the historic investments in basic education and special education funding as well as the continued investment in Level Up funding, which demonstrates a commitment to public education and the commonwealth’s students. The additional significant investments in mental health, school safety, and career and technical education (CTE) in the new spending plan will assist public schools in keeping students, staff and visitors safe as well as helping to train the workforce of tomorrow.
“For at least the last decade, increases in state funding have failed to keep pace with the increases in costly mandates the state has placed on public schools,” stated Mains. “This additional funding will help address those costs.”
Mains continued, “The funding for student mental health is a particularly welcome investment that PSBA has been calling for in light of the overwhelming need for mental health services and supports. Pennsylvania public schools have been witnessing an emerging mental health crisis for years that has only been further heightened by the pandemic. Now is the perfect time to invest in services that assist students with mental health needs.”
“Special education services are key to the success of public education, and the increase of $100 million will continue to invest in students who need supports the most,” Mains concluded.
