HARRISBURG, PA — State Rep. Peter Schweyer on Tuesday endorsed Governor Josh Shapiro’s proposed 2026–27 budget, saying it sends a clear message that students across Pennsylvania deserve equitable funding and expanded opportunities, while setting the stage for intense negotiations in the months ahead.
Schweyer, the Majority Chair of the Pennsylvania House Education Committee, said the proposal builds on what he described as historic investments in public education and continues a multi-year effort to reform how schools are funded statewide.
“Today, the governor told Pennsylvania students and their families that regardless of where they live, they deserve a quality education,” Schweyer said, adding that the plan advances “adequacy, equity and accountability into the school funding system.”
Under the proposal, Basic Education Funding would increase by $50 million, with an additional $50 million directed to Special Education. Schweyer said those investments would have tangible impacts in classrooms across the commonwealth.
“These investments will mean children will have more qualified teachers in their classrooms, better access to new technology, safe and comfortable learning environments and improved support for their mental health and wellbeing,” he said.
The budget also continues Shapiro’s push to expand career and technical education, aiming to strengthen pathways into skilled trades and in-demand careers. Schweyer pointed to $10 million for STEM and computer science programs, along with a $3.5 million increase for the School-to-Work Program, which supports registered pre-apprenticeship opportunities.
“Students wishing to enter career paths in the trades can have an easier opportunity to do so,” Schweyer said, calling workforce development a critical component of the proposal.
For higher education, the plan maintains funding for the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency’s State Grant program, preserving the maximum scholarship award of $5,750. It also proposes increased funding for the Student Teacher Stipend program, aimed at supporting future educators.
Schweyer said the governor’s proposals would benefit working families but cautioned that the budget process is far from complete.
“The proposals the governor outlined today are encouraging and would truly benefit hardworking Pennsylvania families, but there is a lot of work to do between now and June,” he said. “My committee is ready to go to advance these initiatives and get it done.”
The governor’s $53.3 billion budget proposal will now move through several weeks of hearings before the House and Senate Appropriations Committees, as lawmakers begin negotiations ahead of the July 1 start of the next fiscal year.
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