March 4, 2025
Governor’s Budget Plan: Limiting School Choice, Failing Students
HARRISBURG – Last week, the Pennsylvania House and Senate held budget hearings for the Department of Education. One thing was clear: Governor Shapiro’s budget prioritizes dollars over students. His proposal shifts funds away from growing, results-driven programs that empower parents and instead pours money into failing districts that have struggled for decades. The Pennsylvania Association of Public Cyber Charter Schools wants parents to know—this administration is working to take away their ability to choose what’s best for their children.
Despite a decade-long decline in public school enrollment, Acting Secretary Carrie Rowe and the Governor continue to push for increased funding to these struggling districts, blaming cyber schools for their financial woes. Under current law, school districts reimburse cyber schools approximately 70% of per-pupil costs, yet districts keep the remaining 30%—with no expenses for educating that student. Over recent years, Pennsylvania school districts’ general fund balances have ballooned from $4.4 billion in FY 19-20 to $6.8 billion in FY 22-23.
The situation is even more unbalanced for special education, where Act 55 of 2024 allows districts to retain an even larger share—cyber schools are reimbursed an average of just 55% per student. Yet Secretary Rowe, tasked with overseeing $19 billion in taxpayer funds, demonstrated little understanding of how cyber schools operate or their impact on students.
During Senate hearings, Appropriations Chair Scott Martin questioned how the proposed arbitrary $8,000 flat cyber tuition rate was determined. Shockingly, Rowe admitted it wasn’t based on research, studies, or expert consultation—just on a past House bill and the lowest cyber school tuition rate. This one-size-fits-all approach disregards demographic factors and the needs of students.
Secretary Rowe and Governor Shapiro are actively working to strip parents of a critical educational choice. Eliminating cyber schools would force students back into environments that failed them, ignoring issues like bullying, lack of specialized services, and flexibility for special needs students.
Pennsylvania families must stand up for their educational rights. The government does not know what’s best for your children—you do.
