NEWS
đź‘€ đź‘€ Charters spend $185 million in special ed funding on other things
PA's broken system for funding charter school special education creates an incentive for charters to game the system to reap a maximum profit off of payments for students with disabilities. The Pennsylvania School Boards Association found that in 2020-2021,...
How much funding are charter school tuition payments draining from YOUR school district?
Charter and cyber charter schools are privately-managed public schools. Pennsylvania law allows any student to apply to attend any charter or cyber charter school in the state. Students’ home school districts are mandated by state law to pay tuition to the charter...
Ed Voters’ Testimony for the PA House Democratic Policy Committee Hearing on Cyber Charter School Funding
Testimony of Susan Spicka, Executive Director, Education Voters of PA, House Democratic Policy Committee Hearing, May 8th , 2023, Hello and thank you for this opportunity to testify today. My name is Susan Spicka, and I am the executive director of Education...
What an Advocacy Day!!
On Wednesday, April 26th, Ed Voters teamed with partners in the PA Schools Work campaign to host an unprecedented advocacy day in the Capitol. We are building a powerful statewide movement that brings together advocates from tiny rural districts to large...
Join us in Harrisburg for Advocacy Day on April 26th!
On Wednesday, April 26th, Ed Voters will team up with our partners in the PA Schools Work campaign to host an advocacy day in Harrisburg. Public education advocates from throughout the commonwealth will come together in Harrisburg for meetings with their lawmakers and...
Our analysis of Gov. Shapiro’s proposed funding for education in the 2023-2024 state budget
In his budget address, Governor Shapiro acknowledged that the recent Commonwealth Court ruling recognized that education is a fundamental right guaranteed by the Pennsylvania Constitution to all children and that students in low-wealth districts are currently denied...
Our statement on Gov. Shapiro’s proposed education funding in the 2023-2024 state budget
Susan Spicka, executive director of Education Voters of PA, issued this statement in response to Governor Shapiro's proposed budget for education in the 2023-2024 state budget. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 7, 2023 Shapiro Budget Proposal for Education Moves the...
What will Governor Shapiro’s budget proposal mean for public school students? Join us and find out!
On Tuesday, March 7 at around 11:30 am, Governor Josh Shapiro will give his first budget address and set the stage for the 2023-2024 state budget. What will his budget proposal mean for Pennsylvania’s public school students? Join Ed Voters on Wednesday,...
From the Courts to the Classrooms: Let’s Rally to Fund Our Schools!
Commonwealth Court’s recent court decision declaring Pennsylvania’s school funding system unconstitutional is a historic victory for students! We need to celebrate this huge win AND we need to call on our state lawmakers to take the necessary steps NOW to fix...
The verdict is in: Public school students WIN!!!
In a historic victory for students, on February 7, 2023, Commonwealth Court ruled that Pennsylvania's current school funding system is unconstitutional. The judge issued a clear directive: "All witnesses agree that every child can learn. It is now the obligation of...
Learn all about school board elections in 2023!
Pennsylvanians who care about public education have a lot at stake in 2023. Voters will elect school board members in every school district except Philadelphia, which has a board that is appointed by the mayor. School board members have enormous power to shape the...
THIS is the voucher conversation we need in Harrisburg.
Since 2001, Pennsylvania has spent more than $2 billion on school vouchers for private and religious schools through the Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) and Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit (OSTC) voucher programs. By any standards, $2 billion is a lot of...
Taking a minute to celebrate our wins!
A wise friend reminded me that we need to celebrate our wins when we do this work because they are very hard to come by. We are beyond proud of what we have all helped accomplish over the past twelve months and are very grateful for your support in helping...
Stand up for PA students by supporting Ed Voters!
It has been a tremendous year for Ed Voters—and I could not be more thankful. With this year’s state budget, we won a historic increase in education funding, including the Level Up approach that accelerates funding to districts that need it most. We saw the...
Become a school board monitor!
Throughout the commonwealth extremists are attacking public schools. They are pushing book bans and trying to control what is taught in classrooms. They are attacking teachers. And they are even targeting students. Ed Voters is launching a school board monitor program...
 School Funding 101 + Funding Our Future-November 29, 7-8 PM
We are delighted to be teaming up with Teach Plus and PA Schools Work for a webinar that will help put in perspective the importance of our work advocating for adequate and equitable funding for Pennsylvania's public schools in 2023. Click HERE to register for the...
Public education will be on the ballot tomorrow–November 8th!
Tuesday, November 8th, is Election Day. Pennsylvanians will elect a new governor and state lawmakers who will control state policy and funding for public education next year and for years to come. PA's public school students have a lot at stake in the election. Please...
Can They Really Do That? Know Your Rights About School Board Policies–and More!!
Education Voters of PA is excited to announce that we will be partnering with the Campaign for Our Shared Future (COSF) and the Education Law Center to host four training sessions for people who are working to support welcoming and inclusive...
New poll finds 74% of parents feel that politicians are using kids in school as political pawns.
Extremists are pushing Don’t Say Gay bills, anti-LGBTQ legislation, and book bans at the state level. Individuals and groups are targeting school board meetings, inflaming parents with false ideas about what is being taught in our schools and dividing school...
Go Back to School with Ed Voters!
School is back in session and that means it's time to hit the books-or the Google Classroom! We are excited to share with you our brand new Education Voters of PA issues and advocacy training series! The modules in our series will give parents and advocates an...