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Local Civics: School Funding

Posted on June 6, 2023   |   Updated on September 30, 2025
Brittany Valentine

Brittany Valentine

On Monday, a group of municipal leaders from around the state, led by Philadelphia Councilmember Kendra Brooks, traveled to Harrisburg to call for more funding to repair Pennsylvania’s declining school buildings. The coalition included mayors, councilmembers, school board members, and senators from across the state.

Pennsylvania currently has a budget surplus of over $8 billion, the highest in state history. It also has an additional $5 billion saved in a rainy day fund. The coalition met with state-level officials to ask for $5 billion over five years to repair and modernize school buildings.

"My children, my grandchildren, and all of PA’s children deserve safe schools where they can thrive. With over $13 billion in available funding, we can afford to make PA schools safe for all children,” Councilmember Brooks tweeted.

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