Court ruling needs a budget that ‘meets the moment’

It’s hard to know what to say about this year’s state budget. In the budget passed by Senate and House, public schools do see increases in Basic Education Funding and Level Up districts got $100 million in new funding, yet the increase in Special Education Funding was ultimately reduced from the governor’s budget proposal and money initially included by the House for school construction and remediation was removed entirely by the Senate.

Governor Shapiro now promises to veto a voucher program included in the Senate’s budget bill (designed to funnel public money to private schools), which is a big win for public education. However, the initial inclusion of vouchers in the bill and its earlier support from the governor reinforces what we argued at the beginning of this process back in February: this budget does not meet the moment called for by the Commonwealth Court to fix Pennsylvania’s unconstitutional system for funding public schools. It does not provide a thorough and efficient, full and fairly funded education to all Pennsylvania children through quality public schools. It also remains in limbo, held up from being fully enacted due to political turmoil.

But in all of this, something very important did meet the moment: the broad coalition of public school champions. They stressed, in no uncertain terms, what needs to be our focus: the recent Commonwealth Court ruling on education funding. We could not agree more.

In that case, Judge Jubelirer ruled that “the Pennsylvania Constitution, requires that every student receive a meaningful opportunity to succeed academically, socially, and civically, which requires that all students have access to a comprehensive, effective, and contemporary system of public education.” She then determined that this constitutional obligation was not being met and ordered our elected leaders to correct this injustice and begin meeting their obligations to Pennsylvania students.

It is important to note that the legislature and governor, in partnership with local school districts, are morally and legally bound to ensure a high quality public education for all students. Such an obligation cannot be met by using taxpayer dollars to subsidize the cost of private schools. It can only be met by our elected leaders committing to do the difficult work they signed up for. Our lawmakers must come to the table with an understanding that quality public education matters. Public schools ground our neighborhoods and communities. Public schools are the great equalizer. Public schools are uniquely important in that they are responsible for the education of all students, regardless of economic status, family origin, race, religion, gender,  sexuality, language, or disability. Public education represents the full commitment of a democratic society to empower each and every student to grow into their potential as a contributing member of the community.

Each lawmaker needs to understand that strong public schools are constitutionally and morally essential. Our lawmakers must also be willing to ask what it will take to bring our public schools to the place where each student has access to that “comprehensive, effective, and contemporary system of public education.” One thing we know it takes is additional resources for low wealth districts. Judge Jubilier stated in her order that “Students who reside in school districts with low property values and incomes are deprived of the same opportunities and resources as students who reside in school districts with high property values and incomes.”

There are a number of approaches that could be taken to address the lack of resources in low wealth districts; choosing a path and directing dollars to these public school districts is necessary if lawmakers endeavor to honor the oath they took. In this highly charged and partisan environment, education has again become a political football. But book bans, attacks on teachers, and efforts to redirect public dollars to private schools are political battles that fail to serve Pennsylvania students. This was why the broad coalition that emerged during this budget season, in strong support of public schools and their teachers and students, was so exciting to see. This is who will see that the necessary work gets done.

And so we call on our lawmakers to refocus and to embrace this moment as an opportunity to correct a deep injustice. They must resolve to find a solution that ensures each and every student in Pennsylvania has access to the quality public education that the constitution requires.

This commentary was written by Pennsylvania’s for Fair Funding advocates: Dr. Karen Beck Pooley, Bethlehem Area School District board member, Jacqueline Huff, State College Area School District board president and Laura Johnson, Pottstown School District board member