The Shapiro Administration has made historic investments in public education—including the largest increase in K-12 education funding in Pennsylvania history.
- Secured historic increases in K-12 public education funding across his first two budgets, delivering over $1.5 billion in new funding to schools and driving resources to the public schools that need it the most. For the first time in Pennsylvania history, the Commonwealth is spending over $11 billion on K-12 public education.
- Increased funding for career and technical education (CTE) and apprenticeships by nearly $65 million, helping more students gain knowledge and skills needed to succeed in higher education and their future careers.
- Signed into law a $100 million cyber charter reimbursement for public school districts, as well as new oversight requirements for charter and cyber charter schools.
- Provided universal free breakfast for 1.7 million Pennsylvania students regardless of income and free lunch for 22,000 eligible students so students can start the day with a full stomach, ready to learn. Last school year, after Governor Shapiro guaranteed free breakfast for every student, participation in free breakfast increased dramatically—PA schools served nearly 10 million more breakfasts to kids than in the 2022-23 school year.
- Invested $275 million for environmental repairs and upgrades to Pennsylvania’s schools so students can learn in safe environments.
- Secured $200 million in his first two budgets to help make student-based mental health services available to students.
- Delivered $3 million in state funding for free menstrual products in schools so students have the peace of mind to focus on learning.
- 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.
- Changed the state’s system of school assessments to reduce the amount of time students spend taking standardized tests by supporting schools to move to online testing.
- The Commonwealth saw continued educational improvement in the 2023-24 school year, as scores for Math, Science, and English Learner Growth and Attainment increased.
I try to be that teacher that brings that parental level of love and support, the way that I want my children to experience from their teachers.
- Kathy Christiano, State Board of Education Appointee
Gov. Shapiro made higher education a priority again in Pennsylvania, and now the Commonwealth is making the first significant progress on higher education in three decades—including making higher education more affordable for Pennsylvanian students.
- Established a new State Board of Higher Education to coordinate every sector of higher education in Pennsylvania for the first time ever and create a strategic plan to ensure higher education serves as an economic driver for the Commonwealth.
- Allocated over $120 million in increased state funding for higher education scholarships and grants to make higher education more affordable for students.
- Secured $7 million in annual funding to support dual enrollment opportunities for high school students, allowing them to take advanced courses for college credit and chart their own course.
- Signed into law a tax deduction for Pennsylvanians to deduct up to $2,500 in student loan interest paid.
- Offered a new tax credit to allow businesses to match employee contributions to a state-run college savings plan.
The Shapiro Administration invested in training quality teachers and support staff to strengthen the pipeline of well-qualified teachers for the classroom.
- Delivered $15 million to provide student teachers with stipends of up to $15,000 to strengthen the educator pipeline. In the first year of the program, the Shapiro Administration awarded more than 2,000 student teachers $10,000 stipends.
- Reduced the administrative wait time for new teachers to receive their teaching certifications in Pennsylvania by 10 weeks.
- Awarded $1.5 million in grants through the Department of Education for Pennsylvania higher education institutions to partner with local school districts to bolster the special education teacher workforce.