Tell State Officials: Do the Right Thing for Students on School Funding

In 2024, hundreds of Pennsylvanians attended rallies for funding reform in Harrisburg.



Gov. Shapiro has proposed a new budget that for the second year in a row includes a half-billion dollar increase in “adequacy funding” — a funding stream focused on the state’s 348 underfunded school districts. This adequacy funding and the legislature’s acknowledgement last July of the state’s $4.5 billion adequacy gap have been significant results of the historic February 2023 Commonwealth Court school funding ruling and ensuing advocacy. But we must overcome continued legislative resistance to doing the right thing for students and schools.

Along with other advocates, we welcomed the governor’s latest proposal but called on the legislature to improve it. The legislature must commit to a multiyear funding plan, accelerate the closing of funding gaps, enact cyber charter funding reform, and increase basic and special education funding to cover inflation. And schools also need adequate funding for school facilities and quality pre-K. 

Children who were kindergartners when the court declared the state’s funding system unconstitutional cannot wait until high school to experience adequately resourced schools. So far, the state has addressed only 11% of the recognized adequacy gaps for underfunded districts.

In February Appropriations Committee hearings in Harrisburg, state Acting Education Secretary Carrie Rowe listed concrete improvements from additional state funding: converting half-day kindergarten programs to full day; new structured literacy programs and science and technology curriculum; dual enrollment programs where high school students take college classes; school safety improvements; hiring of art and music teachers; and expanded mental health support.

Between now and June, please stay in touch with your legislators. Urge them to support the governor’s adequacy funding proposal, his proposed cyber school funding reform (more below), and the additional increases schools need to cover inflationary cost increases.

It’s Time for Cyber Charter Funding Reform

60,000 Pennsylvania students attend cyber charters.

A key component of Gov. Shapiro’s 2025-26 budget proposal to be voted on by the legislature in June is an initiative to pare back the wasteful spending on the growing cyber charter sector by setting a statewide $8,000 flat rate for school district payments to cybers. The rate is based on cybers’ estimated actual costs. The move, strongly backed by school districts, would save districts $265 million in taxpayer funds annually. The statewide cost of cyber charters has been rising by hundreds of millions of dollars annually, despite alarmingly poor academic outcomes for cyber students.

A February audit report on five Pennsylvania cybers by state Auditor General Timothy L. DeFoor reinforced the findings of a recent report by Education Voters PA about extravagant spending by the state’s largest cyber charter, Commonwealth Charter Academy (CCA). The audit found that the cybers had built up their cash reserves by 144% over three years, due to “excessive” funding through the state’s antiquated funding formula. It also pointed to “uncommon” cyber spending on staff bonuses, gift cards, vehicle payments, and fuel stipends, as well as massive real estate expenditures by CCA.

Bipartisan and statewide support for cyber funding reform is growing, but well-funded cybers will oppose any changes. We encourage you to make cyber funding reform part of the budget advocacy we recommend above.

Schools Need to Be Safe

From Threats to Immigrant Students

ELC continues to hear from families across the state that are fearful about sending their children to school amid threats of heightened ICE enforcement actions targeting immigrants nationwide. There have been no confirmed reports of ICE action at schools, but a previous policy prohibiting enforcement actions in schools and other sensitive locations was rescinded in January.

ELC and ACLU-PA have offered guidance to school districts and community members statewide in a public letter and a recorded webinar that offer an explanation of the law and suggest a protocol for schools.

ELC senior attorney Kristina Moon joined dozens of advocates raising concerns in the School District of Philadelphia on Feb. 27, delivering testimony to the school board. While acknowledging recent positive moves to require staff training and a supportive attendance policy, she urged the district to do more at this critical time to ensure staff understand the law and provide information to families in the language they understand.



Check out ELC’s one-page fact sheet: Immigrant Students and Families have Important Rights in School, also available in Spanish.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Are Essential Values in Public Schools

Recent executive orders and a Feb. 14 ”Dear Colleague” letter from the U.S. Department of Education have made false claims that diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) practices are discriminatory, illegal, and rendered unconstitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court. These federal documents are full of inflammatory, offensive, and racist mischaracterizations about vital efforts to ensure inclusive classrooms and equal access to education for our diverse student bodies. Civil rights and higher education organizations and a national teachers’ union have sued to block these executive directives.

ELC reminds schools and parents that none of these directives carry the force of law, and they do not change laws or schools’ obligations to provide a safe, affirming environment and equitable opportunities for all our students. DEI practices help schools fulfill their obligations under civil rights laws by promoting inclusion, remedying racially hostile environments, and preventing unlawful disparate treatment of students. We also note that the federal government does not have the authority to dictate curricula or classroom materials in public K-12 schools.

ELC is providing presentations challenging these executive actions. We urge parents to tell their school district to maintain their commitment to schools that work for all students.

The U.S. Department of Education on Feb. 27 launched a new portal it claims is for reports of discrimination in schools, but the title of the portal, “EndDEI.ed.gov,” makes clear that the department intends to reject and reverse existing definitions of discrimination. This has already been illustrated by the department’s halting of thousands of submitted complaints and investigations.

ELC strongly urges families to call our Helpline to discuss alternative options for filing civil rights complaints, including with the PA Human Relations Commission, which enforces state anti-discrimination laws.

Trans Student Athletes Have the Right to Play School Sports

The PA Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) made changes to its board policy regarding transgender student athletes last month in response to President Trump’s Feb. 5 executive order that seeks to ban trans girls from sports. The PIAA shifted its policy wording from “gender” to “sex” but still defers to the school’s decision about the participation of transgender student athletes. The policy also directs schools to consult with their lawyers regarding compliance with the executive order. Subsequent comments from PIAA staff indicate that their intent is to ban trans students from playing, but that is not spelled out in the policy adopted by its board, nor is this position supported by the law.

The executive order, already subject to multiple lawsuits, does not have the force of law. It is contrary to court decisions interpreting Title IX in the context of school sports and contrary to regulations under Pennsylvania’s Human Relations Act that prohibit discrimination based on gender identity.

ELC has emphasized that a trans athlete ban would be a harmful move from PIAA, targeting for political purposes the small population of trans and nonbinary students who just want to play on their school’s team and experience the same benefits as every other student athlete.

ELC applauds the School District of Philadelphia for affirming its gender-inclusive policy and demands all school leaders maintain a commitment to nondiscrimination for transgender and gender-expansive students.

Don’t Dismantle the U.S. Department of Education! 

We hope you will join with us in calling on federal lawmakers to take action to protect the U.S. Department of Education and to defend the $4.67 billion in critical public education funding and support provided to Pennsylvania students and schools. Loss of this funding would be catastrophic.

Congress must block the reckless dismantling of the department — an agency that ensures vital funding, legal enforcement, and critical guidance to state and local educational agencies. Its elimination would have grave consequences for schoolchildren across the state, including fewer special education services and cuts to essential funding for children impacted by poverty. It would also leave parents without the support they need and rely on to ensure compliance with important rights and protection against discrimination.

ELC has developed a resource highlighting the crucial role played by the U.S. Department of Education in ensuring that 7.5 million students with disabilities nationwide have full access to a free appropriate public education.

Check out these tips and call your senators to tell them we must maintain the U.S. Department of Education — and the vital funding the department provides — to ensure that Pennsylvania’s students can learn and thrive.

Make Plans to Join ELC Sept. 25 to Celebrate 50 Years

Mark your calendars today! We invite you to join us on Sept. 25, 2025, for the Education Law Center’s 50th anniversary celebration at the Switch House in Philadelphia.

Sponsorships are available now! ELC’s premier fundraiser serves as a unique opportunity to connect with key stakeholders in education advocacy and reform. Please contact Ariella Gregson to learn more about partnership benefits.



We hope you will celebrate this special milestone with us! 

1987: Winning Accommodations for Students With Disabilities

Each month in 2025, we are highlighting an ELC milestone or success as we mark our 50th anniversary. Our timeline of ELC milestones is here. 



In 1986, the Education Law Center sued the Williamsport Area School District and the Pennsylvania Department of Education, alleging that districts across the state were violating students’ rights by discriminating against them on the basis of disability.

Our class action lawsuit began with a Helpline call from the family of Elizabeth S., a 5-year-old with diabetes, who needed support at school to maintain her blood-sugar levels. The district declined to provide these services.

ELC contended that this violated Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which requires schools to provide such accommodations.

The settlement won by ELC benefited children with such health issues as diabetes, heart conditions, asthma, and epilepsy as well as children with physical disabilities. The lawsuit resulted in Pennsylvania state regulations — Chapter 15 — that implement federal law for students with disabilities who need school-based accommodations and supports to receive equal access to school.

Tens of thousands of Pennsylvania students with disabilities now attend school safely thanks to the legacy of Elizabeth S. and related laws. But Section 504 is under attack; 17 states filed a lawsuit asking the court to declare it unconstitutional while seeking to ensure that gender dysphoria does not qualify as a disability.

ELC continues to defend and effectuate the rights conferred by Section 504, enabling students to fully participate in school and thrive. Read more about our Elizabeth S. case here.

From Our Video Library: ELC Litigation Has Brought Systemic Change

ELC senior attorney Margie Wakelin talks about how the skillful work of ELC attorneys on cases over the past 50 years has again and again led to lasting institutional changes, expanding the rights of children.

Check Out Our Job Postings!

ELC is seeking a communications director based in Philadelphia.

ELC is seeking a policy director based in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, or Harrisburg.



ELC is seeking a director of our Western Pennsylvania office in Pittsburgh.



See our website for a description of internship opportunities at ELC.

What We’re Reading

Cover to Cover: An Analysis of Titles Banned in the 23-24 School Year by PEN America

How Many Students May Be Affected by Trump’s Immigration Policies? By Ileana Najarro for Education Week

Concerns mount over potential loss of Medicaid funds for schools by Kara Arundel for K-12 Dive

Our Opinion: Increased education funding needs to continue in PA by the Editorial Board for the Times-Tribune.

50 YEARS: Rooted in Justice, Advancing Equity

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