School Funding Reform On Hold As Rural Districts Battle Uncertainty

Pennsylvania’s fiscal 2024-2025 budget contains historic investments in education based on a new formula intended to more fairly distribute funding among school districts. Rural school districts in particular have been hard hit by underfunding, relying on local tax increases and supplementary funding to deliver services.

The changes stem from a Commonwealth Court decision in February 2023 which ruled Pennsylvania’s school funding system unconstitutional and in need of reform.

Local school district administrators agree that the new formula helps fill the gap in their own budgetary obligations,...