FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sunday, July 12, 2026
Contact: Cindy Carr, ccarr@aftpa.org
AFT Pennsylvania Reacts To State Budget Passage
HARRISBURG – Today, both chambers of the Pennsylvania legislature passed a $50.85 billion state budget deal, and it was signed by Governor Josh Shapiro. The total amount is down from the $53.2 billion that Governor Shapiro offered at his Budget Speech in February and the closely-aligned $53.3 billion that the PA House passed this spring. This is the fifth year in a row the state budget has been passed late.
The 2026-2027 budget deal includes:
- Ready-to-Learn Block Grant: $565 million increase
- Basic Education Funding: $58 million increase
- Special Education Funding: $55 million increase
- Career and Technical Education: $10 million increase
- Student Teacher Support Program: $5 million increase
- School Safety and Mental Health Grants: Maintaining funding levels
- Public-School Facility Improvement Grant Program: $125 million
- Recess: Requires schools to provide at least 30 minutes of outdoor recess each day for students in full-day kindergarten through grade 5 and at least 15 minutes of outdoor recess for students in half-day kindergarten.
- PSERS: Includes a one-time supplemental annuity payment for certain pre-Act 9 retirees in PSERS, ranging from 15 to 24.5 percent of a retiree’s current annuity
In response, AFT Pennsylvania President Wendy G. Coleman issued the following statement:
"Governor Shapiro and his Administration continue to make important investments in Pennsylvania's public education system, including increases for adequacy funding, basic education funding, special education, career and technical education, and mental health services, while continuing support for the Student Teacher Stipend Program. This budget also begins to recognize the service of pre-Act 9 retirees, including public school teachers, by providing a one-time cost-of-living adjustment to help those who have gone decades without one. It also establishes 30 minutes of daily recess for students in kindergarten through fifth grade, giving children time each school day to move, play, connect with their classmates, and return to the classroom ready to learn. While more work remains to fully and fairly fund public education and provide lasting retirement security, this budget represents an important step forward for Pennsylvania's students, educators, school communities. AFT Pennsylvania appreciates the Governor's continued commitment to strengthening public education across the Commonwealth and applauds Speaker Joanna McClinton, House Majority Leader Matthew Bradford, and Senate Minority Leader Jay Costa for their continued commitment to bettering the lives of Pennsylvanians and our students.
“It is, however, unacceptable that while the Governor and Democratic-led House offered their version of the budget months ago, the Republican-led Senate decided to adjourn early for the holiday and leave our state without an on-time budget for the fifth year in a row. The timing mandates in the state constitution are not a suggestion. Pennsylvanians deserve elected leaders who will actually do their jobs and fully fund our public education, higher education institutions, public transportation, and public services on time.”
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