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Leadership
Your Governor:
Josh Shapiro (D) (50)
First term began in 2023 (two-term limits).
Governor Shapiro continues to play around the edges after bucking his party with a public declaration of support for the Lifeline Scholarship program. With a combined $150 million expansion of the two existing tax-credit programs, it still isn’t the full commitment families in desperate need of opportunities are looking for in the Keystone state.
STATE LEGISLATURE:
Split control of the legislature positions a Republican Senate to push for the Lifeline Scholarship Program while the Democratic House, holding a one seat majority, awaits the emergence of two parent power champions. These champions could lead Pennsylvania in declaring its independence from the failing one size fits all education approach that still dominates the scene. Pennsylvania could be on the cusp of a revolutionary moment with upcoming elections.
Constitutional Issues
"The Pennsylvania Constitution contains a Compelled Support Clause and a Blaine Amendment," which "restricts the use of funds ‘raised for the public schools'. Case law follows the federal Establishment Clause" (Institute for Justice) precedent permitting a looser interpretation of Blaine. However, a challenge could be made to the state's restrictions on funding.
Transparency
While not intuitively available on Pennsylvania’s Department of Education website, school and district report cards can be accessed via the state’s data platform, futurereadypa.org. The user can access school performance, district performance, and school fast facts, among other measures like financial information, special education data, and school safety. Information is delineated by student group, providing a more equitable lens for viewing student performance.
Under the headings "Schools → Types of Schools," educational options are available, and the state provides detailed information on school type definitions, annual reports, funding, and more. To access the state’s scholarships, users are required to utilize the search function, which is limited in nature.
School board elections in Pennsylvania align with the general election cycle, empowering parents with greater influence in their decision-making due to increased voter turnout.