In this issue:
- Education Funding in the Governor’s Budget: Key Highlights and Impacts
- PIAA to Comply with Executive Order Banning Transgender Athletes from Girls’ Sports
- Pennsylvania Teacher Released from Russian Prison
Education Funding in the Governor’s Budget: Key Highlights and Impacts
Governor Josh Shapiro unveiled a $51.5 billion budget for the 2025-2026 fiscal year, emphasizing increased funding for public schools. This proposal includes significant investments in K-12 education, aligning with a court ruling on public school funding.
Basic Education Funding
- $75 Million Increase: Building on previous investments, the budget proposes an additional $75 million in basic education funding.
- $526 Million Through Adequacy Formula: An extra $526 million is allocated via the bipartisan adequacy formula, directing more resources to schools in greatest need.
Special Education
- $50 Million Additional Funding: The proposal includes a $50 million boost for special education, aiming to enhance support for students with special needs.
Early Childhood Education
- $41.6 Million for Pre-K: To expand access to early learning, the budget allocates an additional $41.6 million for pre-kindergarten programs.
- $55 Million for Child Care Centers: An extra $55 million is designated for licensed childcare centers, focusing on teacher recruitment and retention to ensure quality early education.
Career and Technical Education
- $5.5 Million Investment: The budget proposes $5.5 million to restore classroom-based vocational technology training, emphasizing the importance of career and technical education.
Pennsylvania Teacher Released from Russian Prison
In a significant diplomatic breakthrough, Pennsylvania teacher Marc Fogel has been released from Russian detention after more than three years of imprisonment. Fogel, a history teacher from Oakmont, was arrested in August 2021 at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport for possessing approximately half an ounce of medical marijuana prescribed for chronic pain. In June 2022, he was sentenced to 14 years in a Russian penal colony on charges of drug trafficking.
PIAA to Comply with Executive Order Banning Transgender Athletes from Girls’ Sports
In response to President Donald Trump’s executive order issued on February 5, 2025, the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) has revised its policies to prohibit transgender students from participating in girls’ sports. The executive order mandates that educational institutions receiving federal funding must align athletic participation with students’ biological sex, asserting that allowing transgender athletes in girls’ sports undermines fair competition. Consequently, the PIAA Board of Directors voted to amend its guidelines, now requiring schools to determine a student’s sex rather than gender identity for athletic eligibility.
Despite the statewide policy change, the Philadelphia School District has announced its intention to continue permitting transgender athletes to participate in sports consistent with their gender identity. This decision aligns with the district’s existing Policy 252, which supports LGBTQ+ students and allows them to engage in activities matching their affirmed gender. The district’s stance highlights a growing divide between state regulations and local policies, as Philadelphia officials prioritize inclusivity and the rights of transgender students over adherence to the federal directive.
