Democratic Governor Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania made an unexpected move on Wednesday when he yielded to partisan squabbling within the state legislature over funding for the school choice program—his decision aimed to appease members of his party and avoid the passage of a state budget.
School Choice Program
The crux of the dispute revolved around the Program for Advancing Scholarship and Service (PASS) funding, which allocated $100 million to the school choice program. The Republican-led state Senate had already passed a budget that included this provision, signaling a significant step towards expanding educational options. Governor Shapiro, a vocal advocate for school choice, had brokered a deal with Republicans to secure the funding within the budget.
Nevertheless, Shapiro’s unexpected concession stirred unrest within his party, as House Democrats demanded an additional $750 million in aid for public schools—a measure that state Senate Republicans had not endorsed. The clash escalated when House Democrats rejected a separate proposal to establish the voucher program, further intensifying the rift.
Governor Shapiro’s decision to succumb to party pressure and remove the $100 million allocation for the school choice program from the budget bill surprised the state legislature. Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle were caught off guard. At the same time, traditional Democratic allies such as teachers’ unions and school boards, who have historically opposed voucher programs, expressed their displeasure.
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Expressing disappointment in the impasse, Governor Shapiro acknowledged that Leader Matthew Bradford had pledged to consider alternative education options, including the school choice program, the Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit (OSTC), and the Education Improvement Tax Credit (EITC). These possibilities are being explored to address the state’s public education needs in light of a recent education ruling by the Commonwealth Court.
The repercussions of Governor Shapiro’s unexpected decision continue reverberating throughout Pennsylvania’s political landscape. Lawmakers and stakeholders are now scrambling to find a resolution that reconciles the opposing factions while effectively addressing the pressing issue of education funding.