perspectives are at odds with some of the 1776 norms, the elite group of revolutionary white men forged historic standards of freedom and self-determination, enacted through their vision of a public education system.
Two leading Philadelphian Founding Fathers – Benjamin Franklin and Benjamin Rush – put their democratic ideas into action, establishing Pennsylvania’s first public schools. In a time when education was reserved for the rich or the religious, they created public schools that were open to all (including Black Americans early on). Today, the legacy of public schools lives on in our country, mandated to accept students regardless of race, gender, religion, disability status, and more.
Even Pennsylvania’s first constitution (also enacted in 1776) called for the creation of schools paid for with public funds. The revised 1874 state constitution called for the state to maintain and support “a thorough and efficient system of public schools, wherein all the children of this Commonwealth above the age of six years may be educated.”
Despite the wisdom of the Founding Fathers, recent history has seen the Legislature fail for decades to meet its constitutional obligation of a “thorough and efficient education” to the tune of $4.8 billion. In 2023, the Commonwealth Court agreed.
Now, state lawmakers have invested two historic payments to remedy the first $1 billion of that funding gap. These dollars fulfill the promise of our American democracy – that our future does not have to be dictated by the circumstances of our birth but by the grit of our own self-determination and hard work, coupled with the breadth of our dreams. We’re seeing that happen in schools across the Commonwealth with the influx of these funds.
Middle school students in Delaware County struggling with mental health and social pressures now have access to interventionists and counselors. Elementary school students who are not reading on grade-level now have access to special programs like the READ after-school program to improve literacy and a love of reading. The limitations students faced because of insufficient funding are now being addressed by the adequacy dollars our state legislature and Governor have infused into our public schools.
Another example of how today’s state investment is fulfilling the 1776 vision: In Bucks County, the Neshaminy School District is partnering with the Bucks County Community College to offer dual enrollment to 143 high school students. Neshaminy is covering tuition, books, and instructional supplies, especially critical for the many students who couldn’t otherwise afford college courses. Ben Franklin, who started his career as a printer’s apprentice, would relish the dual enrollment that combines real-life skills with academics.
However you celebrate July 4th, remember that in Pennsylvania, our state legislature has made good on the ideals of our Founding Fathers for two years in a row through historic payments to adequately fund public schools. As we await the passage of the FY 27 state budget, we hope to see a third installment of adequacy funds that will continue to deliver for our youth – the future stewards of our democracy.
The Founders started this work. It’s ours to finish.
