Harrisburg – Acting Secretary of Education Dr. Carrie Rowe announced that the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) has approved ending Receivership for Harrisburg City School District effective June 17.
“With today’s declaration, Harrisburg City School District will become the first school district in history to end Receivership. This accomplishment is a testament to the dedicated school leaders who are committed to serving the learners in their community,” said Acting Secretary Rowe. “When the district entered financial recovery in 2012, it was a very different district than the one we see today. After many years of hard work and collaboration, the district implemented a financial model that other distressed districts can follow. PDE applauds the individuals who drove this work, including the Superintendent, School Board, Receiver, and Chief Recovery Officer, for their leadership, vision, and tenacity.”
The district entered Financial Recovery in December 2012 and entered Receivership in June 2019. Since the approval of the current three-year Receivership term in 2022, the district has made significant progress implementing its Financial Recovery Plan and achieved key benchmarks. The district updated aging facilities and infrastructure through a capital plan and maintained positive fund balances of at least five percent of annual expenditures for three successive years and three years of fiscal audits with no findings. The district also realized and sustained systemic improvements in both financial and operational areas.
“It is only through the collective efforts of the entire team that the district has reached this milestone. The Administration of the Harrisburg City School District has worked extremely hard to execute the initiatives of the Amended Recovery Plan, and the School Board has remained committed and engaged while under Receivership these last three years. Their return to local control is an opportunity to put into practice everything they have learned about effective governance,” said Court-Appointed Receiver Dr. Lori Suski.
“Exiting Receivership is not just the end of an era—it marks the beginning of a new chapter, characterized by ongoing progress, stronger community partnerships, and a relentless focus on student success. Our employees, community stakeholders, and especially our students and families never wavered in their commitment to the promise of a brighter future – and it begins now,” said Dr. Benjamin Henry, Superintendent of Schools.
Over the next several years as the district enters the monitoring phase, PDE will continue to provide support with administrative and academic initiatives through training and technical assistance to ensure long-term success and stability. Effective June 17, 2025, with the conclusion of Receivership, the Board of School Directors will resume full governance and oversight of the Harrisburg City School District. To support the ongoing monitoring process, a Chief Recovery Officer, appointed by the Secretary of Education, will continue to work alongside the Board to guide and monitor implementation of the District’s Financial Recovery Plan. As part of the five-year monitoring phase, PDE will also oversee the Board of School Directors to ensure financial stability through the continued implementation of the financial recovery plan.
“This is a notable milestone achieved by Harrisburg School District and it would not have been possible without the incredible work and dedication of so many individuals. In particular, I want to acknowledge the commitment and hard work of Dr. Lori Suski who diligently and effectively stewarded the district through this challenging season,” said Senator Patty Kim. "But the work is not done, and our school district - along with our entire public school system - cannot reach its full potential until the General Assembly addresses some root problems, such as properly funding our schools in compliance with our constitutional obligation to do so. Additionally, we urgently need reforms to ensure cyber charter schools receiving public funding operate with the same fiscal responsibility and educational standards expected of traditional public schools."
Governor Josh Shapiro is committed to ensuring Pennsylvania’s public schools have the funding and technical assistance they need to provide a world-class education to the Commonwealth’s 1.7 million learners. His proposed 2025-26 budget requests a $75 million increase for public K-12 schools and a $526 million increase for the Ready To Learn Block Grant; a $40 million increase for special education; and establishes a statewide cyber tuition rate of $8,000 per student per year to more closely align tuition with the actual costs of providing an online education, which is expected to save school districts an estimated $378 million annually.
The Harrisburg City School District’s mission is to provide a rigorous and relevant education to all students in a learning environment that fosters high expectations, data driven and standards aligned instruction provided by committed, highly qualified teachers. The district endeavors to provide a culturally responsive, safe, and positive school environment to enhance, empower, and promote the value of lifelong learning for its students. Families and the Harrisburg community are active partners in the educational process.