Dear Governor Shapiro,
We are school board members, parents, educators, and community members from all around Pennsylvania. We are from well-resourced and underfunded school districts; from rural, suburban, and urban ones. We share a common conviction: Every child in Pennsylvania deserves a high-quality education. We are convinced that the ONLY way to provide this is to fully and fairly fund our public schools.
As you know, the Commonwealth Court ruled last February that the Administration and Legislature are failing to provide each student with a high-quality public education, violating the state constitution and undercutting our potential as a Commonwealth. We have watched closely, knowing your ability to listen to the people on the ground and creatively solve problems. We had hoped to see you forge a solution, addressing the court’s order to correct the deep disparities in our public education system. Instead, we saw a failure of leadership, from an underwhelming initial budget proposal to your abandonment of key campaign promises to “fully fund our schools”. Even as the budget process was finally completed at the end of 2023, we couldn’t help but notice that there was no funding for Level-Up or any other program that would address our massive, and unconstitutional, educational opportunity gap.
We realize some want to direct education dollars toward programs that propose to “help students escape”’ from under-resourced schools. Whether we are discussing EITC or vouchers, let’s be clear: these programs fail to get the Commonwealth even one penny closer to meeting its constitutional obligation to Pennsylvania students. Privatization methods siphon funding away from public schools and into programs that have shown poor results – they have not meaningfully improved academic achievement or significantly reached underprivileged students. Yet even if these programs worked well, they would still fail the vast majority of Pennsylvania students because they do not and can not address the root problem.
The root problem is that Pennsylvania has been underinvesting in public schools for decades, with economically disadvantaged public schools seeing particular divestment. The importance of public schools must be acknowledged and prioritized. Public schools are where all students are guaranteed an education – full stop. It doesn’t matter whether students have a disability, what their family background is, what their religion is, or what mistakes they’ve made – public schools are morally and constitutionally obligated to provide a “thorough and efficient” education to every Pennsylvania child.
These schools are foundational to our children and our communities. Unfortunately, the Commonwealth’s decades of underfunding them has created a $6 billion gap between what our students need and what they get. This lack of resources is particularly concentrated in schools that educate students from lower-income families and students of color. These disparities hurt students in real time, as larger class sizes, fewer enrichment opportunities, and dangerous school facilities impact students’ current academic, physical, and mental well-being. As you said in your brief in support of the plaintiffs in the school funding case, “The evidence before the Court shows that the resources of Petitioner schools and Philadelphia are inadequate… educational outcomes in those districts are both significantly worse than those in other districts across the Commonwealth and inadequate in their own right.” And these disparities cause lasting harm, translating into lower graduation rates and lower lifetime earnings.
To address this core challenge of insufficient funding from the Commonwealth, we must commit to ensuring our public schools, especially the long-underfunded ones, have the resources they need to provide a quality education for their students.
These students – all of them – need someone to champion them. As Attorney General and as a candidate for Governor, you expressed support for full and fair public school funding. As Governor, those students need you to step up and lead, to address this foundational problem with decisiveness and determination. Our students need historic results, which ensure our public schools are fully equipped to provide every student with a thorough education that ensures they graduate ready for college, career, and civic life.
There is no greater challenge before our Commonwealth right now. But together, we really can do big things.
Will you lead our Commonwealth in this great and worthy effort – providing every student with access to a high-quality, public education?
With Conviction and Hope,
Laura Johnson, Pottstown School District
Dr. Karen Beck Pooley, Bethlehem Area School District
Jacquelyn Huff, State College Area School District
Monica D’Antonio, Norristown Area School District
Cynthia Wirth, Norristown Area School District
Carol Vorchheimer, Philadelphia School District
Paul Castanzo. Pottstown Senior High
Sara Miller, Pottstown School District
Na’imah Rhodes, Pottstown School District
Christopher Jaramillo, Norristown Area School District
Alina Kitchell, Daniel Boone Area School District
Michael Faccinetto, Bethlehem Area School District
Donna Smith, Bellefonte Area School District
Chris Petro, Pottstown School District
Donna Force, Perkiomen Valley School District
Laura Frymoyer, Boyertown Area School District
Jeff Chebot, Cheltenham School District
Ann Davis, Upper Dublin School District
Robert Lieberman, Cheltenham School District
Len Zangwill, Abington School District
Tod Weinstein, Jenkintown School District
Gillian Szymanski, Upper Dublin School District
Keri Marini, Pottstown School District
Shannon Patrick. Bethlehem Area School District
Jacqualyn James, Stroudsburg Area School District
Dr. Myra Forrest, Perkiomen Valley School District
Meredith Johnston, Pottstown School District
Paul Friel, Owen J Roberts School District
Amanda Figueroa, Pottstown School District
David Caldwell, Pottstown School District
Beth Reeves, School District of Lancaster
Dr. Trisha Moller, Bethlehem Area School District
Douglas Hill, School District of Lancaster
Rev. Faith D’Urbano, West Chester Area School District
Brenda Stover, Hempfield School District
Catherine Fox, Scranton School District
Greg Newswanger, School District of Lancaster
Rev. Dr Marcia B. Bailey, Perkiomen School District
Rev. Sarah Strosahl-Kagi, Pottstown School District
Joshua Kagi, Pottstown School District
Greg Vennemann, Bethlehem Area School District
Rev. Jesse North, Manheim Township School District
Jeanette Trefny, Warwick School District
Scott Trefny, Warwick School District
Beth Sviben, Central Dauphin School District
Dr. Meredith Hegg, Upper Darby School District
Don Fields Upper Darby School District
Jeanne Petrosky, Pottstown School District
Leon Weber, Manheim Township School District
Tara Yanni, Scranton School District
Gayle Hall, Pottstown School District
Cory Hulsizer, Camp Hill School District
John W. Eby, Manheim Township
Kenneth J Langeman, Manheim Township
Bonita Buonocore, North Penn School district
Jeanette Beck, Ephrata Area School District
Rev. Rachael Lawrence, PhD, Norristown Area School District.
Edward Buonocore, MD, North Penn School district
Lawrence A. Serlin, Haverford Township School District.
Alex Buonocore, North Penn School District.
Thomas Buonocore, Wissahickon School District
Stephen J Rodriguez, Pottstown School District
Ingrid Parker, Norristown Area School District
Janet Lawrence-Nelson, Owen J Roberts School District
Julianne Jayson, Rose Tree Media School District
Katie German, Pottstown School District
Elizabeth Caprioli, Pocono Mt. School District
Janet Weidensaul, Stroudsburg School District
Rosalind Ernest, Ephrata Area School District
Sara Evans, Owen J Roberts School District
Abby Deardorff, Spring-Ford Area School District
Tessi Ruiz, Norristown Area School District
Nikki Huggan, Bangor Area School District
Sharon Mauch, Norristown Area School District
Bonnie Wrazien, Stroudsburg School District
Nathan Hall, Pottstown School District
Beth Mason, Pottstown School District
Megan Angelo, Bethlehem Area School District
Merlyn Clarke, Stroudsburg School District
Marty Kelley, School District of Lancaster
David Laky, Spring-Ford Area School District
Joseline Kraemer, Stroudsburg Area School District
Kathleen Lindman, Warwick School District
Michaela Johnson, Pottstown School District
Larry Stephenson, Conestoga Valley School District
Susan DeJarnatt, Philadelphia School District
Rev Patricia H Lawrence, Norristown Area School District
Kathleen Butts, School District of Philadelphia
Michelle Dech, Reading Area School District
Beth Chaville-Fuller, Owen J. Roberts School District
Zachary J. Epps, Cheltenham School District
Phylicia Epps, Cheltenham School District
Athena Procsal, Pottstown School District
Donna Singer, Pottstown School District
John Bermingham, Bangor Area School District
Laura Bermingham, Bangor Area School District
Dorothy Viglione, Allentown School District
Brenda Morales, School District of Lancaster
Ned Matalia, North Penn School District
Jennifer Lowman, Cheltenham School District
Alex Battaglia, School District of Philadelphia
Vivien Kane, Wissahickon School District
Bridget Volinskie, Pottstown School District
Rachel Mitchell, Upper Darby School District
Beth Logue, School District of Philadelphia
Catya Harrold, Pottsgrove School District
Susan Knoll, School District of Lancaster
Kait Linton, Hempfield School District
Kelsey Knowles, Pottstown School District
Katie Coolong, Pottstown School District
Christina Lepkowski, Pottstown School District
Sadira Hueber, Pottstown School District
Sarah Clark, Pottstown School District
Karen Neitz, Pottstown School District
Rachel Bedard, Hempfield School District
Brittney Williams, Upper Darby School District, School District of Philadelphia
Carley Tkaczuk, School District of Lancaster
Nick Rotoli, Owen J Roberts School District
Desiree’ Murphy Morrissey, Upper Darby School District
Theresa Westwood, Spring-Ford Area School District
Gwen Shapiro, Lower Merion School District
Jane Gruen, Pottstown School District
Barbara Watts, Manheim Township School District
Susan Long, Hempfield School District
Michael Berardi, Lower Moreland School District
Jill Houseal, Norristown Area School District
Howard Brown, Pottstown Area Health & Wellness Foundation
Timothy Runkle, Elizabethtown Area School District
Kimberly White, Pottstown School District
Pat Ayers, Warwick School District
John D. Snyder, Esq., Great Valley School District
Mary Gallimore Hempfield School District
Andrea Moselle, School District of Philadelphia
Elliott Seif, Bucks County Intermediate Unit
Coleman Poses, School District of Philadelphia
Joan Lukas, School District of Philadelphia
Judy Lechner Brody, Haverford School District
David Mosenkis, School District of Philadelphia
Seamus Kearney, School District of Philadelphia
Larry Feinberg, School District of Haverford Township
Trenita Lindsay, Pottstown School District
Dr. Karalyn McGrorty Derstine, North Penn School District
Jan Herzog, Southern Lehigh School District
Cathy Skitko, Pottstown School District
Amy Auwaerter, Governor Mifflin School District
Emily Schenkel, Bethlehem Area School District
Cynthia Whitley, Norristown Area School District
Maryann Buch Snyder, Southern Lehigh School District
Julie Thomases, Allentown School District
Susan Thompson, Philadelphia School District
Dr. Damary Bonilla-Rodriguez, East Stroudsburg Area School District
Debra Brauner, Upper Perkiomen School District
Alan Snyder, Southern Lehigh School District
Patty Carlis, Southern Lehigh School District
Ian Carlis, Southern Lehigh School District
Rick Kinder, Warwick School District
Susan Newell, Warwick School District
Jayme Curet, Bethlehem Area School District
Christian Curet, Bethlehem Area School District
Rabbi George Stern, School District of Philadelphia
Karen Scher, School District of Philadelphia
Julie Kimsey-Carroll, Haverford Township School District
Charles W Best, Warwick District
Bob Bueding-Philadelphia school district
John B. Kelly, III, School District of Philadelphia
Louise Best, Warwick School District
Kathy Schoenberger, Warwick School District
John David Bowman, Warwick School District
Erin DeRosa, Stroudsburg Area School District
Susan Burrell. Warwick School District
Fran Hirschman, Warwick School District.
Joanne Robb, Warwick School District.
Christopher D. Mano, Archdiocese of Philadelphia
Roseann Liu, School District of Philadelphia
Ann Friedenheim-Csandl, East Penn School District
John J Armato, Pottstown School District Board Member
Nick Sanders, School District of Philadelphia
Terrance Henderson, Manheim Township School District
Susan Royer, Upper Perkiomen School District
Katina Bearden, Pottstown School District
Hugh Taft-Morales, School District of Philadelphia
Bob Bueding, School District of Philadelphia
Leigh Buchanan, School District of Philadelphia
Gary King, School District of Philadelphia
Naomi Walinsky-King, School District of Philadelphia
Judith C Hurlbut Warwick School District
Marta Guttenberg, School District of Philadelphia
Lewis C. Ayers, Warwick School District
Rah Noonan-Ngwane, School District of Philadelphia
Katharine Daley, School District of Philadelphia
Barbara Silbert, Springfield Twp (Montco) School District
Irma Kelly, Warwick School District
Stan Horwitz, School District of Philadelphia
Jennifer Wilson, Hatboro-Horsham School District
Daniel Guet, School District of Philadelphia
Janet Chalfant, Warwick School District
David Chalfant, Warwick School District
Rev. Priscilla Tennant, Philadelphia School District
Allison Collins, Pottstown School District
Dorothea Leicher Troy Area School District
Wayne Martin, Penn Manor School District
Pam Hagen, Warwick School District
Patti Lehman, Warwick School District
Karen Clemente, Upper Perkiomen School District
Hannah Ingebretson, School District of Philadelphia
Carol Carts, Coudersport Area School District
Michael Kelly, Warwick School District
Shirley Showalter, Warwick School District
Stuart Showalter, Warwick School District
Twila Miller, Warwick School District
Stephen Kelly, Lower Moreland Township School District
Sharon Wallis, School District of Philadelphia
Deborah Hall, Warwick School District
James C. Martin Warwick School District
Jennifer Martin Warwick School District
Jan Fisher Warwick School District
Gena Groves, Upper Merion Area School District
David Fisher Warwick School District
Barbara A. Watts, Manheim Township School District
Ruth Dubinsky, Colonial School District
Kimberly Glenn, Upper Darby School District
Sandra Miller, Saucon Valley School District
M. Rayah Levy, Bethlehem Area School District
Sharyn Bowman, Warwick School District
Nancy Borremans, School District of Lancaster
Fatim Byrd, School District of Philadelphia
Judith Gemmell Warwick School District
Mary Lilja, Coudersport Area School District
Gayle T. Stauffer, Warwick School District
Elaine Fulmer, Warwick School District
Tom Fulmer, Warwick School District
Hillary Fletcher, Rose Tree Media School District
Art Levinowitz, Upper Dublin School District
Cameron Stevens, Rose Tree Media School District
Sherry Groff, School District of Lancaster
Rhoda Toperzer, School District of Philadelphia
Joy Bergey, School District of Springfield Township
Diane Pierce Philadelphia School District
Carol Duncan Philadelphia School District
Elizabeth Eagles, Springfield Township School District
Burgandy Holiday, Philadelphia School District
Sandra Duncan, Columbia Borough School District
Donald Lindman, Warwick School District
Merritt Andruss, Springfield School District
Randy Libros, Cheltenham School District
Rev. Kipp Gilmore-Clough, Philadelphia School District
Jessica Tkacs Way, Cheltenham School District
Amparo Hoard, Cheltenham School District
Jacob Javier, Cheltenham School District
Nick Bernardini, School District of Philadelphia
Katrina Clark, School District of Philadelphia
Honey Polis Bodine, School District of Philadelphia
Roger Bodine, School District of Philadelphia
Thomas Quinn, School District of Philadelphia
Lisa Hantman, School District of Philadelphia
Katherine Imperato, School District of Philadelphia
Kristin R. Luebbert, School District of Philadelphia
Regina B. Holley, PhD, Pittsburgh Public Schools
Avery Finch, Philadelphia
John Barnett, Owen J. Roberts School District
Susan Lawrence, Pottstown School District
Dennis L Landon, Daniel Boone School District
Beth Yoder, Pottstown School District
Adam Roth, Pottstown School District
Kathryn Frasch, Pottstown School District
Theresa Dundon, Pottstown School District
Kelly Leibold, Pottstown School District
Tricia Mitchell, Pottstown School District
Lori Hoshaw, Pottstown School District
Ashlee Raub-Rodriguez, Pottstown & Kutztown School District
Christine Williams, Boyertown School District
Lisa Stephenson-Horne, Pottstown School District, Owen J Roberts School District
Raymond M Rose, Pottstown School District
Kimberly Hocker, Warwick School District
Sally Foose, Pottstown School District
Nick Fox, Pottstown School District
Amber Elsner, Pottstown School District
Mara Imms, School District of Philadelphia
Sophie Greer, Haverford Township School District
Karel Kilimnik, School District of Philadelphia
Noga Newberg, School District of Philadelphia
Michele Ayers, Hempfield School District
Marcy Morgan, School District of Philadelphia
Ana Marjanovic-Shane District of Philadelphia
Sigal Felber, School District of Philadelphia
Bevin Journey, School by District of Philadelphia
Sharon Krause, School District of Philadelphia
Andrea Richards, School District of Philadelphia
Janet Clark, Philadelphia School District
Monique McCoy, Philadelphia School District
Catherine Jacobsen, Philadelphia School District
Karrianne Biscorner, School District of Philadelphia
Silvia Diaz, School District of Philadelphia
Carla Weidman, Warwick School District
Tamar Magdovitz, School District of Philadelphia
Margaret Thorn, Warwick School District
Art Thorn, Warwick School District
Nicole Chambers, School District of Philadelphia
Mary Elizabeth Talian, School District of Philadelphia
Karla Holland-Moritz, School District of Philadelphia
Miriam Burke, Hempfield School District
Beth Warms, Upper Dublin School District
Joel Gerstl, School District of Philadelphia
Lawrence Schofer, School District of Philadelphia
Angelique Hinton, Norristown Area School District
John D. Horkel, School District of Philadelphia
Larissa Pahomov, School District of Philadelphia
Terry Waslow Abington Township School District
Jessica Morris-Horowitz, School District of Philadelphia
Sharon Marino, Colonial School District
Elizabeth Wilbert, School District of Philadelphia
Clarice Brazas, School District of Philadelphia
Shana Caplan, School District of Philadelphia
Hannah O’Brien, School District of Philadelphia
Elizabeth Alston, Methacton School District
Pooja Chanda, Methacton School District
Carol Minnich, Warwick School District
Stephanie Barbour Warwick School District
Richard Barbour Warwick School District
Louise Sitler Warwick School District
Blithe Riley, School District of Philadelphia
Rebecca Boyer, Lampeter-Strasburg School District
D. Michael Byler, Warwick School District
Laura Boll, Manheim Township
Kathleen Schmick, Warwick School District
Jane Weigel Lampeter, Strasburg and SDOL
Darcy Miller, Elizabethtown Area School District
Jean Lynette Meck, Warwick School District
Susan E King, Lancaster City School District
Glenn P. Mersky, Methacton School District
Rebecca VanderMeulen, Downingtown Area School District / Upper Darby School District
Karleen Krenicky, Rose Tree Media School District
Ken Dinitz, Rose Tree Media School District
Sandy Lieberman, Cheltenham School District
Dr. Janet Nelson, Owen J Roberts School District
Rev. Urbane Peachey, Manheim Twp. School District
Zita Angelo, Donegal School District
Suzanne Blanc, School District of Philadelphia
Candi Haas-Simmons, Pottstown School District
Luke Johnson, Pottstown School District
Laura Hazeltine, Daniel Boone Area School District
Karen Pidcock-Lester, Pottstown/Pottsgrove School Districts
Rich Davis, North Penn School District
Deborah Harris, North Penn School District
Beth Margolis, Upper Dublin School District
Kimberly Byrd, The School District of Philadelphia
Jed Margolis, Upper Dublin School District
Chris Smart, Wissahickon School District
Jennifer Sokol, Wissahickon School District
Erin Hirsh, Cheltenham School District
Alex Malek, Springfield School District (Montgomery County)
Melissa Hecht, Upper Dublin School District
Wendy Elliott-Vandivier, Philadelphia School District
John Elliott-Vandivier, Philadelphia School District
Nancy Schek, Cheltenham School District
Sara Kehs, Spring-Ford Area School District
Richard L. Ayers, State College Area School District
Jonathan Sauder, Hempfield School District
Robert B Weinstock-Collins, School District of Lancaster
Carter Lester, Pottsgrove School DistrictJoseph Meloche, Rose Tree Media School District
Daniel Erdman, School District of Lancaster
Gary Sieling, Wissahickon School District
