State education funding in flux

Delayed state budget, former federal freeze create uncertainty

Pennsylvania school districts find education aid in flux from both the federal and state governments as the summer wears on.

The U.S. Education Department is releasing $5.5 billion in appropriated education aid after freezing it a month ago for a review. Pennsylvania's share of that amount is $230 million.

The state Education Department missed a special education payment to schools last week due to the lack of a state budget for Fiscal Year 2025-26.

The ups and downs regarding education aid come after school districts have adopted budgets for this fiscal year.

The federal aid for 116 school districts in Pennsylvania helps support after-school programs, teacher training and professional development, literacy programs and educating children in farming families.

The breakdown is $11 million for children in farming families that move often because of the demands of agricultural jobs, $70 million for recruiting and training teachers, $20 million for English language instruction, $55 million for academic enrichment and other programs, $54 million for after-school programs, $18.6 million for adult-oriented education and $2 million for English literacy and civic education.

Federal education officials froze the $230 million on June 30 one day ahead of its delivery date.

Two weeks later, Pennsylvania joined a lawsuit with 25 other states challenging the freeze. Gov. Josh Shapiro said he joined the lawsuit to force the Trump administration to deliver money promised to students and the schools.

The Pennsylvania State Education Association welcomed the money's release.

"The federal funding freeze put services students depend on at risk, including reading and math supports, summer and after school programs and support for migrant students and English learners," said PSEA spokesman Chris Lilienthal.

"There was no reason for the Trump administration to hold up this funding in the first place," he said.

On the state end, the education department missed the date for sending its first special education payment, one of six paid throughout the year, said Dylan Watt, director of advocacy for the Pennsylvania Association of School Business Officials (PASBO).

Pennsylvania provides billions of dollars of annual subsidies to schools, but the payments are staggered.

A PASBO timetable shows subsidy payments due during August for basic education funding, pupil transportation, career and technical education and ready to learn block grants.

The state budget is nearly a month late with no sign of a deal between Shapiro, Senate Republican and House Democratic leaders on legislation to present to lawmakers for a vote.