Education
Our education system is the way that we collectively pitch in to prepare of our children and young people for a productive work life and to contribute to society. We prepare them, so that we can all benefit from their creativity, productivity, and maximized potential. But educating children takes a well-trained and committed workforce, financial resources, parental and community engagement, a healthy educational environment, and children that are ready for schooling.
Additionally, our higher education system, including universities, community colleges, and technical schools prepare or retrain individuals for the next stage in their lives. We must make higher education accessible, affordable, and useful for people that want to take advantage of the great resources that the Commonwealth has to offer.

Make a Commitment to Fund Schools at the State Level
Pennsylvania’s constitution requires that, “The General Assembly shall provide for the maintenance and support of a thorough and efficient system of public education to serve the needs of the Commonwealth.” This is not a requirement that the Legislature is fulfilling. While the Senate Democrats have prioritized education funding and made great strides at increases, we still have not achieved the goal of funding public education by 50% at the state level. We must do more.

Make Higher Ed Accessible
Higher Education has become integral in today’s high-tech, internationally competitive
workplace. However, Pennsylvania now has the 2nd highest student tuition debt among the states, indicating a system that is costly and prohibitive to enter. We must to more to make our community colleges and state system of higher education more affordable so that everyone that wants to continue their education past high school has an opportunity to do so.

Ensure that Children are Prepared for School
Early childhood education and pre-K, after school and tutoring programs, nutrition and health supports, among other social services provide an important source of assistance to make sure that children are not just in the classroom, but ready to learn.

Public School Building Emergency Repair and Renovation
Most Pennsylvania public school buildings were built between 1950 and 1959; there are more than 200 Pennsylvania public school buildings built before 1950. Nearly half of those old buildings house students in the School District of Philadelphia, where $170 million in facility upgrades alone are required. The systems within those buildings — heating, cooling, lighting, electrical, etc. — are broken, inefficient and in desperate need of replacement. We need to provide state funding to remediate the dangerous conditions threatening the health and safety of our children and school personnel.

Expand Career and Technical Training
CTE courses give students the academic, technical and employability skills needed for postsecondary and workplace success. A CTE background can lead to fulfilling careers that provide a great source of income. Careers in health sciences, business, marketing, information technology, STEM, among many others can be rewarding and lead to very successful vocations.

Prevent High-stakes Graduation Assessments and Reform our Testing System
Assessments are a necessary part of the education system to track proficiency and growth of students, teachers, and schools. But testing has taken on a life of its own and become a source of distraction and stress for students and teachers and syphoning off valuable time in the classroom. We must come up with a system of testing that captures the information necessary to provide the data we need while not undermining the quality of education our children receive.

Reform Charter Schools
Charter and cyber charter schools are now an integral and embedded part of our state and
local education system. However, we can improve their performance, hold them more accountable educationally and financially, and prevent them from undermining our traditional public schools. We must address comprehensive charter school reform to address all three of these goals.

Provide Assistance to Struggling Schools
Pennsylvania has school districts and buildings that are in trouble and the
only source of immediate assistance has to come from the State. Whether it’s financial, educational, or both, we must create diagnostic programs to identity problems within schools and customize solutions to improve administrative, instructional, and learning performance.

Provide Our Children with the Tools to Maximize Their Potential
Strategic investments in programs that will provide our children with the resources necessary to help ensure a bright future must be a priority. Funding a statewide summer reading pilot program to ensure children read at grade level, establishing mentoring programs for kids as they transition from middle school to high school, and providing state resources for after-school programs focused on areas such as STEM education are all actions we can take to help our kids maximize their potential and lay the foundation for future success.

Retain Highly Skilled and Experienced Educators
Teachers are the backbone of our education system. For children, teachers are their earliest mentors, provide essential life tools throughout the education experience, and prepare them for the next stages in life. We must protect their profession from vicious and unfair ideological attacks and provide them with safe working conditions, reasonable compensation and benefits (including setting a new floor for teacher salaries at $45,000 per year), and ongoing professional development opportunities so that they remain on the cutting edge of their practice.
Our Members at Work
Local School Boards Show Support for Sen. Williams’ University School Meal Legislation
Pittsburgh, PA − May 22, 2023 − Senator Lindsey M. Williams applauded the Fox Chapel Area School Board for passing Resolution 2023-2 in support of her Universal School Meals legislation at their most recent School Board Meeting on May 8, 2023. This resolution, a copy...
Senator Kearney and Rep. Fiedler Introduce PlanCon Legislation
Lawmakers Advocate for State Funding for School Facility Repairs Harrisburg, PA – March 1, 2023 – Senator Tim Kearney (D-Delaware) and Representative Elizabeth Fiedler (D-Philadelphia) today held a press conference to announce legislation to revive the...
Senator Lindsey Williams Applauds Free Breakfast Program for Pennsylvania Students and Urges General Assembly to Make Free Meals Permanent
Pittsburgh, Pa. − September 9, 2022 − Following Governor Wolf’s announcement that breakfast will be provided to Pennsylvania students for free this school year, Senator Williams released the following statement and call to action. “I’m overjoyed that students...
Comitta Introduces Legislation to Address Teacher Shortage
West Chester, Pa (August 29, 2022) – As students across Chester County and Pennsylvania return to class this week, state Senator Carolyn Comitta is introducing new legislation to grow Pennsylvania’s educator workforce, increase diversity in the classroom, and break...
Senator Lindsey M. Williams, Senate Dems, And SNAPA Ask Governor Wolf To Take Action On Free School Meals
Pittsburgh, Pa. − August 4, 2022 − Senator Lindsey M. Williams, Minority Chair of the Senate Education Committee, sent a letter to Governor Tom Wolf and Acting Secretary of Education Eric Hagarty urging the Administration to take any steps possible to temporarily...
Comitta Visits Upper Main Line YMCA to Announce Funding for STEM And Environmental Education Programs
Berwyn, PA − August 1, 2022 – Children and young people attending summer camps at the YMCA of the Greater Brandywine will now have access to even more innovative environmental education and STEM programs thanks to funding secured by state Senator Carolyn Comitta....
Senator Santarsiero Introduces Legislation to Require Safety and Violence Education for Students
BUCKS COUNTY − June 29, 2022 − Senator Steve Santarsiero (D-10) announced today that he has introduced legislation to support student mental health in our public schools. Senate Bill 1263, the Safety and Violence Education (SAVE) Students Act would require...
Senator Lindsey M. Williams Announces Three Education Bills Aimed at Improving Student Mental Health
(Pittsburgh, Pa.) June 15, 2022 --- Senator Lindsey Williams announced today that she is the prime co-sponsor of three pieces of legislation aimed at improving student mental health. These bills seek to put more school-based mental health care programs and...
Students Discuss School Climate and Education Issues with Senate Dems Policy Committee
WEST NORRITON, June 3, 2022 – State Senator Katie Muth (D- Berks/Chester/Montgomery), chair of the Senate Democratic Policy Committee, today joined Senator Tim Kearney (D-Chester/Delaware), Senator Amanda Cappelletti (D-Montgomery/Delaware), and Senator Maria Collett...
Hughes, Fiedler, Rally with Educators for Full School Funding
PHILADELPHIA − May 12, 2022 − With Pennsylvania sitting on more than $8 billion in excess revenue, and a dismal national ranking for school equity, state Sen. Vincent Hughes and Rep. Elizabeth Fiedler held a pre-budget school funding rally in South Philadelphia today...
Senator Kearney Champions Gov. Wolf’s Level Up Funding Proposal, Sponsors Legislation for $300M Investment to Address Educational Inequities
HARRISBURG, PA − May 11, 2022 – Senator Tim Kearney (D – Delaware/Chester) is pleased to announce that his legislation to address educational inequities throughout the Commonwealth has been formally introduced into the Pennsylvania Senate. The Level Up School...
Senate Dems Discuss Challenges of Childcare Facing College Students at Policy Hearing
BLUE BELL, April 28, 2022 – State Senator Katie Muth (D- Berks/Chester/Montgomery), chair of the Senate Democratic Policy Committee today joined Senator Maria Collett, Senator Amanda Cappelletti, Senator Carolyn Comitta and Senator Judy Schwank to host a public...
Senator Lindsey M. Williams Releases Statement on Adoption of Special Education Funding Report
Harrisburg, PA − December 15, 2021 − Senator Lindsey M. Williams released the following statement following the adoption of the General Assembly's Special Education Funding Commission report today: "We all know there is immense work to be done to support our special...
Schwank Offers Amendment to Allow DACA Recipients to Receive Teaching Certifications
Harrisburg, PA – October 18, 2021 – State Senator Judy Schwank (D-11th district) introduced an amendment to SB 224 that would authorize Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) recipients to obtain teaching certifications in Pennsylvania. SB 224 removes barriers...
Brewster Secures Over $10 Million in Additional Funding for District Schools as Member of Education Committee
McKeesport, July 6, 2021 – In addition to funding from previous years, State Sen. Jim Brewster announced today that schools in the 45th Senate District will receive an added $10,684,245 for the next fiscal year, including $3 million in new “Level-Up” supplements...
Education Advocates Push Fontana ‘Nellie Bly’ Tuition Aid Program
HARRISBURG, June 15, 2021 – A diverse group of education advocates joined state Sen. Wayne Fontana today to urge passage of Fontana’s legislation to create the “Nellie Bly Scholarship Program” aimed at easing financial burdens to keep Pennsylvania students in...
House & Senate Democrats Join Gov. Wolf to Call for Investing in Schools, Delivering Equity for all Students
HARRISBURG, June 8, 2021 – House and Senate Democrats and advocates for students from across the state joined Gov. Tom Wolf to call for investing half of the $3 billion in above-expected state revenue into improving schools for students statewide, and fully...
PA Senate Democrats Hold Policy Hearing on the Impact of the State System of Higher Education Redesign Plan
Harrisburg – May 17, 2021 - At the request of state Senators Judy Schwank (D-Berks) and Lindsey M. Williams (D-Allegheny), the Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Policy Committee held a virtual public hearing on the impact of the Pennsylvania state system of higher...
Senator Santarsiero to Introduce Legislation to Help Pay Off Student Loans for New Pennsylvania Homeowners
BUCKS COUNTY – April 16, 2021 – State Senator Steve Santarsiero (D-10) announced today that he will be introducing legislation to help young adults become Pennsylvania homeowners. The legislation, known as the Put Down Roots in PA Act, would pay off up to...
Senator Lindsey M. Williams Co-Hosts Hearing on COVID Impact on Local Districts, Parents, Students, and Educators
Pittsburgh, PA − March 3, 2021 − Today, Senator Lindsey M. Williams co-chaired a Joint Committee Hearing of the Senate Education Committee and Senate Health and Human Services Committee focused on the impacts that COVID-19 has had on education over the past year. The...