Harrisburg, PA – Governor Josh Shapiro visited communities across the Commonwealth last week to meet with higher education and workforce development leaders, as well as state and local legislators, to highlight the significant investments made in higher education, career and technical education, and job training as a result of the bipartisan 2024-25 budget.
From Cheyney University in Delaware County to UMWA Career Center in Green County, Governor Shapiro’s budget makes investments to give students and workers the freedom to chart their own course – investing in all paths to success, from college and continuing education to vo-tech and apprenticeship programs – opening the doors of economic opportunity, including:
$15.7 million increase for community colleges and $35.1 million increase for PASSHE schools
Over $120 million in increased funding for scholarships and grants, including $28 million for scholarships to students pursuing a degree in a high-demand field, a $54 million increase to PHEAA student grants, and $5 million for disadvantaged students’ scholarships
$30 million increase in CTE programming and equipment and continues Governor Shapiro’s work to invest in apprenticeship programs, building on the 45 new apprenticeship programs approved since he took office in January 2023
$10 million increase in the Educator Pipeline Support Grant Program, which provides up to $15,000 to eligible student teachers in Pennsylvania — this budget secures an additional $10 million for student teacher stipends, doubling last year’s investment
$7 million to support dual enrollment opportunities for high school students allowing them to take advanced courses for college credit and chart their own course
$2 million in first-time state funding for nursing apprenticeships
Read what students and workers are saying about these investments in their future:
Veronica Redden, Cheyney University student: “My journey began four years ago as I was filling out college applications, and I can remember it was a time of uncertainty as to how I was going to pay for the education I was seeking. That was until I got a call from the Admissions Office at Cheyney stating that I qualified for the Keystone Scholarship, a full tuition scholarship in Cheyney University’s Honors Academy. The promise of a free education motivated me to not just attend college but to excel during my time at Cheney. I've been encouraged to take advantage of every opportunity that would open up for me – prioritizing my learning and growth without the worries of tuition. It's the reason why I'm able to stand here today to introduce Governor Shapiro as he signs this bipartisan budget, bridging more gaps than one. This budget will provide students like me with the support they need to pursue higher education.”
Edward Helman, UMWA Career Center program participant: “When I first found this program, I was working in a job where I wasn't really going anywhere. I saw an ad for a free class that could put me into a different line of work where I'm working with my hands,” said Helman. “This class has been nothing but hands on — it has led me moving into a new career and finding a job where I feel like I'm actually going to get ahead in life.”
Read what higher education and CTE leaders are saying about these investments:
Cheyney University President Aaron A. Walton: “Today is a historic day for higher education in Pennsylvania – Cheyney University proudly stands with Governor Josh Shapiro as he signs this transformative bill. His commitment to investing in our institutions, especially Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), ensures we can continue to provide exceptional education to our students. This investment acknowledges the critical role of HBCUs in shaping future leaders and opens doors to countless opportunities for our community.”
UMWA Career Center Executive Director Clemmy Allen: “The Career Center has a 28-year history of serving coal miners living in the rural coal mining communities of Appalachia, as well as their families too. Since 1996, we have provided services to more than 22,000 individuals from training workers when they get dislocated from the mines to training new and incumbent miners. The UMWACC was granted construction funding in a partnership with the State of Pennsylvania and the U.S. Economic Development Administration to repurpose the simulated coal mine into an adult workforce training center to help train the next generation of workers. Our Ruff Creek Training Center currently offers mechatronics training and is on track to begin a new apprenticeship program for gas well capping in partnership with the UMWA union. This will be the first apprenticeship training program for the UMWA."
Read what a labor leader and elected officials are saying about these investments:
Chuck Knisell, International District 2 Vice President, UMWA Local Union 2300: “We dedicate our life to the next generation — they deserve to have an opportunity for their children to get trained, to follow a vocation, or to be involved in an apprenticeship program. We should strive to do the best we can to set up our children, so they don't have to worry about their own children moving on into the future. I'd like to thank the Governor for all of his support over the years — he’s been a good friend of ours.”
House Majority Appropriations Chairman Representative Jordan Harris: “This year's budget marks a significant milestone for Pennsylvania, championing the future of our higher education system. We are investing in our community colleges and PASSHE universities with substantial funding increases—$15.7 million for community colleges and $35.1 million for PASSHE schools. These investments, coupled with a tuition freeze for PASSHE schools, underscore our commitment to making college more affordable and accessible for all. Additionally, over $120 million in scholarships and grants, including a $54 million increase to PHEAA student grants and $5 million for disadvantaged students’ scholarships, further highlight our dedication. By enhancing transparency, ensuring continuity, and establishing the state Board of Higher Education, we are paving the way for a brighter, more educated future for Pennsylvania."
Senate Democratic Appropriations Chairman Senator Vincent Hughes: “Today, is a historic moment for Pennsylvania students and our post-secondary institutions. This bill not only champions transparency in higher education but also paves the way for a seamless transfer process between public institutions. By fostering clarity and accessibility, we empower our students to make informed choices about their education, ensuring that every pathway leads to success.”
House Majority Education Committee Chairman Representative Peter Schweyer: “We partnered with Governor Shapiro to fundamentally reimagine how we paid for basic education in Pennsylvania this year, but we also made incredible strides toward building a student-focused future for colleges, universities and trade schools, too. Today is a celebration, but it’s also a reminder of how much more we can and should do to make it easier for students to graduate – and graduate without debt.”
Representative Jennifer O’Mara: “As Chair of the Student Debt Caucus and as a PHEAA board member, I have been working for years with my colleagues to come up with solutions to make higher education attainable for all Pennsylvanians – House Bill 897 is a huge step in the right direction. With millions of dollars of critical investments in our PASSHE schools, community colleges, and PHEAA grants and scholarships, as well as supporting apprenticeships, nurses, and teachers, we are not only making college more affordable, but also growing our workforce where it is needed most.
Representative Mary Isaacson: “This new law is a down payment on public higher education, and we are only getting started. While a new Board will work to bring stakeholders together, this law will enable our public higher education systems to make college more affordable and accessible to Pennsylvanians looking for training and career paths. Dual enrollment will forge new and simplified paths to earn college credits for our students, and articulation credit acceptance will make classes like English 101 the same no matter where you sat in the classroom for it. These are meaningful reforms for students who thought they may never receive their diplomas, and this law is a win for students all across the state.”
Senator John I. Kane: “It's special to see our state budget making real investments in higher education and here at the first HBCU in the country. This budget backing will open up big opportunities for our schools and students. Thanks to the Governor's budget, we're making solid progress in improving our commonwealth schools. These investments are paving the way for a brighter future for our schools and the next generation of leaders."
See what Pennsylvanians are reading about Governor Shapiro’s investments in higher education and CTE:
The Philadelphia Tribune: Josh Shapiro praises higher education investments at Cheyney University
Times Leader: Gov. Shapiro holds ceremonial bill signing for higher education reforms
Observer-Reporter: Gov. Josh Shapiro talks up vo-tech spending at Greene careers center
Governor Josh Shapiro’s bipartisan budget is a continuation of his focus on bringing people together to get stuff done – and it puts forth a bold vision to create opportunity for all Pennsylvanians. For more information on how the 2024-25 budget will create opportunity for Pennsylvanians, visit shapirobudget.pa.gov.
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