Summer weather is shaking up Pennsylvania with heat waves and thunderstorms rolling across the state. It’s time to check the political temperature to see if it’s sunny or stormy for children and teens in the Commonwealth.

A Ray of Sunshine in the PA Senate

Bucking national trends, the GOP-controlled PA Senate Labor & Industry Committee passed The Family Care Act (SB 580). This is remarkable because it is the first time in the country that paid family and medical leave legislation was approved by any Republican majority legislative body. 

“Thirteen states and the District of Columbia have enacted paid leave programs, and I am hopeful that Pennsylvania can join that. This bill is critically important to my constituents and workers across the state,” said Committee Chair Devlin Robinson (R-Allegheny), who is co-lead of the legislation along with Senator Maria Collett (D-Montgomery). 

The state House has been moving their version of The Family Care Act so success in the Senate would pave the way for PA families to be able to care for loved ones, especially a new baby, without risking their financial security. 

Fun in the Sun in the PA House

Wide-reaching legislation that will finally, fairly, and adequately deliver funds to public schools passed the House. HB 2370 takes a comprehensive approach directing urgently needed state funds to the most under-resourced public schools where one million of the state’s students are educated. This happened because of the incredible leadership by the House Democrats. It’s worth noting that five Republicans joined all the Democrats to pass the bill.

As the legislature moves into budget negotiations, this legislation lays out a framework for how state education dollars should be spent so every child has a 21st century, quality education. 

Cloudy Day for Philadelphia Kids

The new budget in Philadelphoia doesn’t move the needle in any remarkable way for pre-k or K-12 education – no additional PHLpreK seats and no real expansion of programming at rec centers and afterschool and summer programs.

While the final budget did include Mayor Parker’s proposal of a 1% increase in the share of property taxes going to schools, which stands to generate an extra $24 million( but that isn’t enough to bring down class sizes and doesn’t relieve principals from making hard decisions between teachers and social workers).

While kids are headed to summer vacation, budget talks are heating up in Harrisburg. We’re forecasting stormy negotiations, with a lot of heat on private school vouchers and K-12 funding so contact your legislators in support of public schools.