Statement On Legislative Leaders’ Decision Not To Appeal Commonwealth Court School Funding Ruling

**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**

AFT PA PRESIDENT ARTHUR STEINBERG STATEMENT ON LEGISLATIVE LEADERS’ DECISION NOT TO APPEAL COMMONWEALTH COURT SCHOOL FUNDING RULING

Plymouth Meeting, PA– Arthur Steinberg, President of AFT Pennsylvania, issued the following statement on behalf of the union representing more than 36,000 educators, paraprofessionals, school staff, higher education faculty, and state workers after legislative leaders in the Pennsylvania General Assembly did not appeal the February 7, 2023 ruling by the Commonwealth Court finding Pennsylvania’s public school funding system to be unconstitutional:

“Now that legislative leaders have tacitly acknowledged that our system of funding education violates the Pennsylvania Constitution, they have a duty to do right by Pennsylvania’s children and communities. Not only is this a moral duty, but a legal obligation prescribed by the Commonwealth Court.

“Pennsylvania’s schools are underfunded by at least $4.6 billion while between the General Fund and the Rainy-Day Fund, our state government possesses a $13 billion budget surplus. It’s at times like these, with a strong economy, reliable revenue, and a surplus that we should be boldly investing in our future.

“Summer is halfway over, and a new school year is rapidly approaching. Let’s give our children and families some good news by finally fully and fairly funding all of Pennsylvania’s public schools.”

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