3.3.26 - House Education Budget Hearing

Pennsylvania House Budget Hearing

Department of Education – FY 2026–27 Budget

Hearing overview and framing

The House Appropriations Committee held a budget hearing with the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) to review Governor Shapiro’s proposed education budget and to question department leadership on major policy and funding issues.

Legislators focused heavily on the Commonwealth Court’s school funding ruling, education adequacy funding, career and technical education (CTE), early intervention services, and broader curriculum issues such as civics education.

Toward the end of the hearing, discussion returned to the constitutional obligations of the state following the school funding lawsuit, with members noting the legislature’s responsibility to address the ruling through continued funding reforms.

Major policy and budget topics discussed

1. School funding adequacy and the Commonwealth Court ruling

One of the most significant portions of the hearing centered on the 2023 Commonwealth Court decision declaring Pennsylvania’s school funding system unconstitutional.

Members questioned PDE officials about whether the proposed increases in education funding—particularly those directed toward the “adequacy” funding formula—represent the Commonwealth’s response to that ruling.

Department representatives agreed that:

• The adequacy funding component is part of the state’s response to the court decision.
• The Commonwealth has a constitutional responsibility to continue addressing the ruling.
• Failing to continue making progress toward funding adequacy would risk leaving the system in an unconstitutional position.

Legislators emphasized that because the ruling was not appealed, it is effectively the law of the Commonwealth and the General Assembly must continue working toward compliance.

This exchange reflected a broader theme of the hearing: the legislature must decide how quickly and at what scale it will move to close the statewide school funding gap identified in the court decision.

Key programmatic and policy discussions

2. Career and Technical Education (CTE) funding and workforce development

Members expressed support for the Governor’s proposal to increase funding for Career and Technical Education programs, noting roughly a 10% increase in the line item.

Legislators highlighted several issues:

• Growing demand and waiting lists for CTE programs across Pennsylvania.
• The need to modernize the structure of career education programs.
• Ensuring students can move more quickly into workforce pathways.

One specific policy issue raised was the timing of industry certification exams. Legislators suggested that students who complete coursework earlier—such as in 11th grade—should not be forced to wait until their senior year to take national competency exams.

Members also asked PDE whether legislative changes might be necessary to allow greater flexibility in CTE pathways and earlier credentialing opportunities for students entering the workforce.

3. Impact of recent education funding increases

Several members referenced the substantial education funding increases enacted over the past several budgets, noting that the General Assembly has added more than $3 billion in new education funding over three years.

Legislators asked the Department what impact districts are seeing from these investments.

Department officials testified that predictable funding has allowed districts to:

• Fill teacher vacancies with fully qualified teachers rather than substitutes.
• Reduce class sizes.
• Expand access to career and technical programs.
• Provide more individualized instruction for students.

Officials also noted that smaller class sizes can significantly improve personalized learning environments.

4. Early intervention services and special education cost pressures

Members raised questions about rising costs associated with early intervention services for young children with disabilities.

Department officials explained that:

• Approximately 71,000 children currently receive early intervention services in Pennsylvania.
• The program is growing by roughly 2,000 to 2,500 additional students each year.
• Because the state must provide services to every child determined to be eligible, the costs are difficult to predict in advance.

Historically, the state has sometimes required supplemental budgets to cover these services after initial appropriations were exhausted.

PDE officials said the department has updated its budgeting model and aligned provider payment cycles with the state fiscal year to better anticipate costs and reduce the need for supplemental appropriations in the future.

5. Civics education and civic engagement

Members also raised concerns about the state of civics education in Pennsylvania schools.

Legislators cited national studies suggesting:

• About 75% of educators believe civics education does not receive enough instructional time.

Members referenced Act 35, which previously attempted to strengthen civics education requirements, but questioned whether additional incentives or policies are needed.

Legislators asked the Department:

• What programs are currently being used to strengthen civic education.
• What additional support educators might need to improve civic engagement instruction.

Broader themes emerging from the hearing

Education adequacy remains the dominant policy issue

The hearing repeatedly returned to the constitutional adequacy mandate, with legislators pressing the department to confirm that the state must continue addressing the funding gaps identified in the court ruling.

This indicates that the adequacy funding formula and court compliance will likely remain the central debate in upcoming budget negotiations.

Workforce development through CTE remains a bipartisan focus

There was broad bipartisan interest in expanding career and technical education opportunities.

However, members suggested that policy reforms—not just funding increases—may be necessary to modernize CTE programs and allow students earlier access to workforce credentials.

Growing demand for student support services

The hearing highlighted rising costs and demand for services such as:

• Early intervention programs
• Special education supports
• Workforce training programs

These areas are expected to remain major drivers of education spending.

Closing of the hearing

The hearing concluded with members reiterating the legislature’s responsibility to respond to the court ruling on school funding and to continue working toward a constitutionally adequate system of public education.

The chair thanked the Department of Education leadership for their testimony and adjourned the session.

✅ Key takeaway:
The hearing made clear that Pennsylvania’s education budget debate is now largely structured around three intersecting issues: complying with the school funding court ruling, expanding workforce-oriented education such as CTE, and managing the growing costs of student support programs like early intervention.