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HARRISBURG, PA (Oct. 30, 2025) — With Pennsylvania’s state budget 122 days overdue, public schools are being forced to freeze new hires, take out costly loans, and curtail educational programs like after-school tutoring.

As of today, public schools across the commonwealth are waiting on $5.3 billion in state funding after missing what would have been the fourth monthly payment of state funding, according to estimates from the Pennsylvania State Education Association (PSEA). A full list of all school entities and the estimated state funding they have missed in July, August, September, and October is available at www.psea.org/budget.

“PSEA envisions a future where funding is no longer an obstacle for our students to reach their full potential,” PSEA President Aaron Chapin said. “But this budget stalemate is undermining everything our educators are working to achieve.

“The public schools serving Pennsylvania’s poorest communities are getting hit the hardest. Instead of addressing inequities in our funding system, this budget impasse is making things much worse for those schools and the students they serve.

“But this is not just a problem for the poorest school districts. It is beginning to hurt students everywhere, in school districts large and small — rural, urban, and suburban.”

Chapin said that a recent poll conducted by Susquehanna Polling & Research for PSEA shows that a large majority of Pennsylvanians support Gov. Josh Shapiro’s 2025-26 education budget proposal.

Among the more than 700 likely voters surveyed, 69% agree that the Legislature should pass Gov. Shapiro’s proposed education budget. Supporters include 51% of Republicans, 87% of Democrats, and 71% of Independents. Only 18% oppose the governor’s budget plan.

Public schools forced to take drastic steps

News reports are highlighting how public schools are dealing with the budget stalemate, from freezing new hires to pausing building projects to cutting student programs and taking on costly loans.

For example, the Norristown Area School District in Montgomery County has been forced to delay the purchasing of instructional materials and hiring of instructional positions, while the Franklin Area School District in Venango County has had to cut back on after-school enrichment, early childhood education, and other important programs.

PSEA has counted at least 27 public school entities that have taken out loans or are exploring loans in order to cover operational costs. Among the schools to take out loans so far are the Greater Johnstown School District ($10 million), William Penn School District ($10 million), Central Fulton School District ($7.1 million), Mahanoy Area School District ($6.9 million), River Valley School District ($5 million), and Uniontown Area School District ($5 million).

Officials with the School District of Lancaster said a $35 million loan the district has taken out to fund operations will cost an extra $200,000 in taxpayer funds in fees and interest, Chapin noted.

“The more public schools have to take out loans, the less money there is to invest in the future of our students,” Chapin said. “This is money that could be going toward more teachers, paraprofessionals, and services for students with special needs. Instead, it is going to pay loan fees and interest.”

Forthcoming SNAP cuts add to concern

About 2 million low-income Pennsylvanians are set to lose their SNAP benefits on Nov. 1 because of the federal government shutdown. Fifty-eight percent of those SNAP participants are in families with children who will go hungry.

This pending loss of SNAP nutrition benefits is likely to add to the stress of students and jeopardize their ability to learn.

“We know that childhood hunger is already a major issue facing our public schools and that the loss of SNAP benefits will only make success at school harder for students facing food insecurity,” Chapin said. “Hunger in children impacts their ability to learn and perform in the classroom because it hinders their concentration, memory, mood, and motor skills.

“It is essential that our elected officials in Washington finalize a federal budget so that SNAP program funds continue to support Pennsylvania’s most needy families and children.”

Chapin is a Stroudsburg Area middle school teacher and president of PSEA. An affiliate of the National Education Association, PSEA represents about 177,000 active and retired educators and school employees, aspiring educators, higher education staff, and health care workers in Pennsylvania.

PSEA’s estimates for missed state payments include state subsidies for basic education, special education, early intervention, Ready to Learn block grant, pupil transportation subsidy, school employee Social Security, IU special education transportation, IU core services, and secondary career and technical education subsidy.