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HARRISBURG, PA (Oct. 8, 2025) — PSEA President Aaron Chapin today commended state House members who voted in favor of a responsible state budget for the third time and encouraged Senate Republicans to stop playing political games and pass the budget bill as soon as possible.

“PSEA commends the state House lawmakers who voted for a responsible, balanced state budget that makes crucial investments in our public schools and communities,” Chapin said. “This budget reflects a spirit of compromise, while remaining true to the state’s commitment to fixing our unconstitutional public school funding system and supporting this year’s batch of student teachers.”

For public education, the state House budget bill includes:

• A $565 million increase for public schools, which is the second installment in the adequacy and tax equity payments needed to fix Pennsylvania’s unconstitutional school funding system.
• A $105 million increase in basic education funding for all public schools.
• A $40 million increase in special education funding for all public schools.
• $30 million for the student teacher stipend program to pay student teachers for the work they do during their 12-week student teaching experience.

“For 100 days, Senate Republicans have been playing political games and refusing to pass a real 12-month budget that funds essential programs that Pennsylvanians pay for with their tax dollars,” Chapin said.

“It’s October, the state budget is 100 days overdue, and Pennsylvania’s public schools have missed $3.76 billion in state funding payments that they need to educate our 1.7 million students.

“Some school districts and intermediate units have already taken out loans to manage cash flow issues because the state has failed to make $3.76 billion in payments. Taxpayers will foot the bill for the borrowing and interest costs of these loans, which could have gone to support the education of public school students. And Pre-K programs across the state may soon not be able to offer their services to some of Pennsylvania’s neediest children.

“It is 100 days past time for Senate Republicans to stop playing political games and pass a real 12-month state budget. They can do it in hours by voting yes on the budget the state House passed today. We hope that they do.”

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.