For further information contact:
Chris Lilienthal (717) 712-6677
David Broderic (717) 376-9169
HARRISBURG, PA (August 13, 2025) — As kids across Pennsylvania head back to school this month, state legislators in Harrisburg still have not completed their summer work of passing a FY 2025-26 state budget that makes critical investments in our public schools.
Because of the overdue budget, schools have missed a round of state payments in July and are on track to miss their August payment. That means K-12 public schools must operate without $1.75 billion in state funding they would typically have in hand by the end of August.
“Lawmakers have not completed their summer work, and Pennsylvania students are the ones who will pay the price,” PSEA President Aaron Chapin said. “Schools across Pennsylvania count on billions in funding from the state. They cannot afford to stand by waiting as kids head back to school.
“Public schools in many parts of the state are vastly underfunded. Pennsylvania’s system of public school funding is so inequitable that a court ruled two years ago it violates the state constitution. Our schools do not need more excuses from elected officials as they wait for a budget.”
How much is at stake?
According to a letter sent by state Budget Secretary Uri Monson to affected parties on July 29, the budget impasse means K-12 public schools will not receive $1.4 billion in basic education funding and $255 million in special education funding due to them in July and August. Career and technical centers will not get $21 million in payments due in August.
The Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) is waiting on approximately $110 million in state funding, while Pennsylvania community colleges are owed approximately $73 million in operating payments and $25 million in capital payments.
Pre-K Counts and Head Start are also waiting on state payments.
In addition, SEPTA in Southeastern Pennsylvania is facing a $213 million budget deficit and will have to cut service by Aug. 24 without legislative action on the budget. Pittsburgh Regional Transit has a $100 million deficit. Without addressing these deficits, thousands of Pennsylvania students will face difficulties making their way to school buildings as soon as next week.
Vouchers are the last thing we should be doing
Instead of finalizing a state budget with increased investments in public schools and mass transit, certain legislators are focused on tired old schemes aimed at sending taxpayers’ money to private and religious schools in the form of tuition vouchers.
“This is the last thing Pennsylvania should be doing at a time when our focus should be on fixing the state’s unconstitutional public school funding system,” Chapin said.
“Several states have created voucher programs in recent years, and the overwhelming evidence tells us that these programs are expensive for taxpayers, blow up policymakers’ ability to responsibly budget, hinder academic growth for students, and fail to deliver for the kids who are most in need.
“If we really want to ensure every student in Pennsylvania has access to a high-quality education regardless of ZIP code or socioeconomic status, we must equitably fund the public schools that educate 90% of Pennsylvania’s students.
“That means lawmakers need to agree on a state budget that adequately funds public schools and mass transit and reject tuition voucher schemes.”
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.
