On May 1, 2024, on behalf of the PA Coalition of Student Services Associations (PACSSA), Dr. Adam Oldham delivered the following resolution to the PA General Assembly:
RESOLUTION of the PENNSYLVANIA COALITION of STUDENT SERVICES ASSOCIATIONS
Whereas Pennsylvania’s Commonwealth Court, on February 7, 2023, found that our current system
for funding public schools is unconstitutional, failing to fulfill the Pennsylvania constitution’s
promise of a “thorough and efficient system of public education” — responding to a lawsuit
filed by six school districts, the NAACP Pennsylvania State Conference, the Pennsylvania
Association of Rural and Small Schools, and parents; and
Whereas the court found that education is a “fundamental right;” and
Whereas the court found that school districts “which struggle to raise enough revenue through local
taxes to cover the needs of their students lack the inputs that are essential elements of a
thorough and efficient system of public education – adequate funding; courses, curricula, and
other programs that prepare students to be college and career ready; sufficient, qualified, and
effective staff; safe and adequate facilities; and modern, quality instrumentalities of learning;”
and
Whereas the court found “that money does matter, and economically-disadvantaged students and
historically underperforming students can overcome challenges if they have access to the right
resources that wealthier districts are financially able to provide;” and
Whereas the Basic Education Funding Commission, a panel of legislators and executive branch
designees, found that Pennsylvania school districts are collectively underfunded by $5.4 billion
and proposed that the state should provide $5.1 billion to close this gap in seven years, plus
an additional $956 million tax equity supplement over seven years for communities that have
faced the steepest local tax burdens; and
Whereas Governor Shapiro’s 2024-25 budget endorses the work of the commission and fulfills the
first year of the commission’s seven-year plan with a $1.1 billion increase in basic education
funding, with most of this funding targeted to public schools that have been shortchanged by
the current unconstitutional system in the small towns, suburbs, and cities where students
have been the most deeply underfunded; and
Whereas the Governor’s budget stands up for our students by putting forward the first step of a
transformative plan for the state to deliver on its responsibility to fully fund public schools in
Pennsylvania based on what children need to succeed, so that students all students,
regardless of zip code and community wealth, have meaningful opportunities; and
Whereas the court directed the General Assembly and the Governor to enact a plan to address the
constitutional deficiencies identified in its opinion, which would include all seven years of
funding called for by the Basic Education Funding Commission; and
Whereas all school districts will materially benefit from the Governor’s proposal and adoption of a
plan to provide for it to continue for seven years until the funding deficiencies identified by the
commission are overcome; and
Whereas every community should have enough funding to serve their students, regardless of wealth;
and
Whereas underfunding is a statewide problem in Pennsylvania public schools, and only statewide
action can reduce the deep disparities in educational resources that define our school funding
system; and
Whereas the use of year-to-year grants have been used to support student mental health, which in
the place of stable and predictable funding have encouraged the hiring of contracted staff and
services instead of school-employed, certified student services professionals, and
Whereas the time is now to take action, for our children and for Pennsylvania’s future; therefore be it
Resolved, that the PENNSYLVANIA COALITION of STUDENT SERVICES ASSOCIATIONS
(PACSSA) urges the General Assembly to adopt Governor Shapiro’s historic state budget
proposal and to pass legislation making the necessary multi-year commitment to address
Pennsylvania’s entire constitutional and moral obligation to fully and fairly fund public schools;
and
Further resolved, that a copy of this resolution be presented to the governor’s office, to the
Secretary of Education, and to Speaker Joanna McClinton, House Majority Leader Matthew
Bradford, and House Minority Leader Bryan Cutler, as well as all members of the House of
Representatives, and to Senate President Pro Tempore Kim Ward, Senate Majority Leader
Joe Pittman, and Senate Minority Leader Jay Costa, as well as all members of the Senate.
To access the official resolution on the PAPSA website, click here.
PAPSA is a charter member of PACSSA.