Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, a Democrat, recently visited Amanda E. Stout Elementary in Reading to highlight the significant increase in public education funding included in the state’s new budget. This visit comes on the heels of Shapiro being passed over as Vice President Kamala Harris’ running mate for the upcoming presidential election, with Harris selecting Minnesota Governor Tim Walz instead.
During his visit to Amanda E. Stout Elementary, Governor Shapiro, along with Pennsylvania Education Secretary Dr. Khalid N. Mumin, met with students, teachers, and legislators to celebrate the record funding for public K-12 education allocated through the 2024-25 budget. The $1.1 billion increase in total funding for K-12 public education represents the largest year-over-year boost in Pennsylvania’s history, according to the governor’s office.
“In the bipartisan budget I signed into law last month, Pennsylvania will invest $11 billion in K-12 public education for our students and teachers — that’s $1.1 billion more than last year, a record amount,” Shapiro stated. The governor emphasized the importance of investing in children’s futures and highlighted the progress made in areas such as student teacher stipends, mental health resources, and environmental school repairs.
The new budget not only delivers more funding but also addresses how the money is distributed to schools. A new formula directs funding to districts that have been chronically underfunded, ensuring that the districts in most need receive the necessary resources. The Reading School District, which Amanda E. Stout Elementary is a part of, will receive approximately $40 million more than the previous year as part of the new budget.
Of the $1.1 billion in education funding increases, nearly $526 million will be distributed through a new adequacy formula aimed at providing funds to schools that need it the most. Additionally, the budget includes increases in special education funding by $100 million and Career and Technical Education by $30 million.
The budget also allocates $100 million for mental health and physical safety resources, $20 million for school safety and security improvements, and $3 million for menstrual hygiene products for students. It will double funding for student teacher stipends to a total of $20 million, further supporting educators in the state.
Education officials in Reading have welcomed the unprecedented support from the new budget, seeing it as a critical step toward educational equity. Superintendent Jennifer Murray stated, “These investments represent a critical step toward educational equity, and we are eager to witness the positive impact on our students and educators.”
Governor Shapiro expressed his commitment to continue prioritizing public education in Pennsylvania, stating, “I’m coming back next year to double down on our mission and continue to make sure public education is a priority in Pennsylvania.” Despite facing challenges and changes in funding proposals, Shapiro remains dedicated to ensuring that Pennsylvania’s students receive the support they need to succeed.
