The Shapiro Administration has made historic investments in public education, ensuring students have more resources and parents have a voice in their children’s education:
Signed the FY2023-24 budget into law, which included a $567 million increase in basic education funding for Pennsylvania school districts and is the largest BEF increase in history.
Signed the FY2023-24 budget that included a $50 million increase in special education funding to ensure every student has the resources they need to succeed in the classroom.
Secured universal free breakfast for 1.7 million Pennsylvania public school students regardless of income after proposing the funding in his first budget.
Hear from the kids why this matters:
Secured $100 million in funding for school-based mental health counselors and resources for students.
Signed legislation investing $175 million in environmental repairs and upgrades to Commonwealth schools to improve facilities so they are safe and healthy for students and teachers to learn and work in.
Fulfilled his promise to appoint two parents to the State Board of Education to ensure parents have a seat at the table when it comes to their children’s education.
Lt. Governor Austin Davis and the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency awarded $1.34 million through the First Chance Trust Fund Program to implement scholarship programs to support at-risk students in communities with prominent high school dropout and incarceration rates.
Awarded more than $8 million in School Safety grants from the Department of Education to improve school safety at 166 schools and committed $4.8 million in Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency grants for Pennsylvania school employees to receive free safety and security trainings.
The Governor worked hard to expand access to employment and educational opportunities after high school:
Signed the FY2023-24 budget with a more than $33 million increase in funding for Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education and a $5.1 million increase to community colleges.
Signed the FY2023-24 budget that invested more than $30 million to expand career and technical education in Pennsylvania classrooms and to increase apprenticeship opportunities.
Helped more students receive college credit while still in high school by awarding $6.7 million in grants to 100 schools for dual credit programs across the Commonwealth and signing a FY2023-24 budget with $7 million to support dual enrollment opportunities.
Announced a new public-private partnership between the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) and Google to make industry-recognized Google Career Certificates available to students and the public to help them secure good-paying jobs.
This administration has invested in training quality teachers and support staff:
Signed the FY2023-24 budget that invested $10 million to provide Pennsylvania student teachers with annual stipends so the Commonwealth can train more quality teachers.
Began to address the teacher shortage by awarding $1.5 million in grant money through the Department of Education for Pennsylvania higher education institutions to partner with local school districts to bolster the special education teacher workforce.