Public schools are a pathway to opportunity for students across Pennsylvania. But for too long, the commonwealth did not fund schools adequately, leading to wide disparities between the type of programming offered from one school district to the next.

House Democrats know that every child deserves access to a quality education that supports them and prepares them for the jobs of the future, regardless of the ZIP code they call home. That includes equipping our teachers with the resources, support, and assistance they need to prepare our students for a bright future.  

Speaker McClinton and House Democrats have championed investments in our schools and students – to ensure every child has a strong foundation early in life.

Since winning the majority in the State House in 2022, House Democrats have:

• Allocated record funding to public education across the board, from pre-K all the way up to our world class colleges and universities, including hundreds of millions in additional money each year to our historically underfunded school districts.  
• Established the Student Teacher Stipend Program to provide eligible future educators with a much-needed stipend while they are completing their classroom requirements.
• Streamlined the teacher certification process by removing barriers for aspiring educators in Pennsylvania.
• Established the Child Care Recruitment and Retention Grant to provide our dedicated early childhood workers with a raise.
• Directed millions of dollars to repairing school buildings to keep students safe.
• Offered free breakfast to every student in every district.