Pa. budget gives millions more to schools, which suffered under delay

By Kristen A. Graham, The Philadelphia Inquirer (TNS)

Pennsylvania’s public schools are set to receive $665 million in new money under a state budget deal passed by Harrisburg lawmakers Wednesday after a monthslong delay.

Most of that funding — more than $500 million — will come through adequacy and tax equity formulas designed to close a $4 billion “adequacy gap” identified in a landmark 2023 court decision that said Pennsylvania’s public school-funding system was unconstitutional , illegally underfunding children in low-wealth districts.

The deal also includes changes for cyber charter schools — including cuts in payments and more oversight — that will represent a savings of hundreds of millions for districts across the state. (Virtual school advocates called the changes “disastr