Pennsylvania Senate budget plan omits $565M boost for underfunded schools, drawing criticism

The Pennsylvania Senate passed a $47.9 billion budget plan that notably excludes a $565 million increase aimed at funding the state’s most underfunded schools. The vote came 113 days after the June 30 deadline and followed a House budget proposal of $50.25 billion that included the funding increase. The Senate’s budget passed along party lines and drew strong criticism from Democrats, who argued the omission neglects a court-mandated effort to correct disparities in public education funding. The House plan, passed with bipartisan support, prioritised this funding as part of broader investments in social programs. Court-mandated funding increase left out The $565 million boost was recommended following a Commonwealth Court ruling that Pennsylvania’s school funding system is unconsti