Today, Governor Josh Shapiro visited A. Philip Randolph Career and Technical High School in the School District of Philadelphia to highlight how his Administration’s historic investments in public education are creating real opportunity for students, supporting teachers and school staff, and delivering results across the Commonwealth — emphasizing the importance of continuing to build on this progress through his 2025-26 proposed budget.
Since taking office, the Governor has secured more than $2 billion in additional funding for K-12 public education — the largest investment in Pennsylvania history. As a result, for the first time ever, the Commonwealth is investing more than $11 billion each year in its public schools.
The Shapiro Administration also secured a new funding formula to distribute these resources to the schools that need it most — ensuring every student, in every zip code, has access to a high-quality public education. These investments are delivering real results in school districts across the Commonwealth — including here in Philadelphia, where they are seeing the impact firsthand.
Thanks to these investments, the School District of Philadelphia has expanded its career and technical education (CTE) programs, providing students hands-on training and the opportunity to earn industry certifications in high-demand fields. These programs not only prepare students for immediate, productive employment after graduation, but also offer the chance to secure apprenticeships and build connections with community partners.
Randolph High School is a specialized CTE school in Philadelphia, dedicated to preparing its diverse student body for post-secondary education and workforce opportunities through academic and career-focused programs. The school offers pathways in automotive mechanics, collision repair, culinary arts, construction, welding, fire science and emergency medical services, electronics and automated systems, and health-related technology. Recent investments from the Shapiro Administration have helped Randolph expand their programs, including:
$15,000 for the Emergency Medical Technician program to purchase an Anatomage Galaxy Virtual Reality Tablet Bundle and a Witmer Emergency Scene Robot
$15,000 for the Construction Trades program to acquire a floor drill press, cabinet table saw, and Jet wood planer
$17,700 for the Culinary Arts program to install a double stack convection oven and cashier station
In his first two years, Governor Shapiro has increased funding for vo-tech, CTE, and apprenticeships by nearly $65 million — marking a 50 percent increase that gives students the freedom to chart their own course and the opportunity to succeed.
At Randolph High School, where Governor Shapiro visited, students are making real academic progress. Last year, the school saw a nearly 8 percent increase in math Keystone scores, a 15.5 percent improvement in English Language Arts (ELA) scores, and a 14 percent rise in the graduation rate — one of the largest increases in the Commonwealth.
“Creating opportunity for kids starts in the classroom — and from day one, my Administration has made it a top priority to bring Democrats and Republicans together to invest in our students and support public education in Pennsylvania,” said Governor Shapiro. “In Philadelphia, we’re seeing the impact of delivering on that promise and following through on our commitment — test scores and graduation rates are rising, and students are gaining real-world skills through hands-on career and technical education programs. This is what progress looks like when we fund our schools fairly and equitably, and I’m committed to working together to keep that going and ensure every student in Pennsylvania has the opportunity to succeed.”
Under Governor Shapiro’s leadership, the School District of Philadelphia has received a $390 million increase — over 25 percent — in state funding across basic education, special education, and Ready to Learn. As a result, state funding for Philadelphia has increased from $1.52 billion in 2022-23 to over $1.9 billion in 2024-25.
Governor Shapiro’s budgets have also delivered targeted resources for the School District of Philadelphia, including:
$16.77 million in Public School Facility Improvement Grants for school safety and environmental repair projects across the district
$500,000 PAsmart Innovation Grant to create mobile agriculture learning stations and increase enrollment in ag-related CTE programs
$206,473 to provide menstrual hygiene products at no cost to students
“We’re pleased to have our Governor with us as he seeks to make sure that these kind of programs proliferate across the Commonwealth,” said Dr. Tony Watlington, Superintendent of the School District of Philadelphia. “This is a school district that’s working hard to get student attendance rates up, test scores up, the graduation rate up, and the dropout rate down. We are absolutely certain that these improvements will result in more of our young people graduating both college and career ready.”
“Educators who are responsible for the learning and growth of students in schools like A. Phillip Randolph are grateful for last year's historic increase in funding provided by Governor Shapiro and the General Assembly, while agreeing that much more is needed to meet the Constitutional mandate as ordered by the Court," said Arthur G. Steinberg, President of AFT Pennsylvania and the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers. “The 36,000 educators we represent urge lawmakers to keep the momentum going and pass Governor Shapiro's budget, which would increase funding in traditional and CTE schools and ensure our students receive the education and training they need to become skilled unionized workers or pursue higher education.”
“We know the importance of providing learners with the tools they need to succeed — providing them with a free, nutritious meal to start their day; access to passionate and dedicated teachers; educational opportunities that are engaging and hands-on; and safe and healthy learning environments,” said Pennsylvania Department of Education Acting Secretary Dr. Carrie Rowe. “Thanks in large part to Governor Shapiro’s continued commitment to investing in education across the Commonwealth, our schools are preparing today’s learners for tomorrow’s careers and ensuring they leave high school ready to follow their dreams — whether that’s attending a college or university, joining the workforce, or serving in the military.”
In his first two years, Governor Shapiro brought Democrats and Republicans together to begin work to fix Pennsylvania’s unconstitutional school funding system — agreeing to a new adequacy formula that delivers more resources to the schools that need them most. His 2025-26 budget proposal continues that commitment with:
$526 million in adequacy formula funding — the exact number bipartisan leaders agreed to last year, ensuring resources reach the schools that need them most
$75 million increase in basic education funding
$40 million more for special education, bringing the total to $1.5 billion statewide
$125 million for school safety and environmental repair projects through the Public School Facility Improvement Grant Program — a $25 million increase over last year’s investments
$111 million to sustain school-based mental health and safety services
Establishing a statewide base cyber charter tuition rate of $8,000 per student, saving districts an estimated $378 million annually
$5.5 million increase to Career and Technical Education (CTE), on top of a nearly $65 million increase since Governor Shapiro took office
Doubling the PA Student Teacher Support Program to $40 million annually, helping more aspiring educators enter the profession
Continuing universal free breakfast for 1.7 million students
$3 million to provide free menstrual hygiene products in schools
The Shapiro Administration’s targeted investments are showing real results:
Over 90 million breakfasts were served to students last year — 10 million more than the year before
More than 3,000 students are now enrolled in CTE programs
778 schools expanded mental health services using flexible state funding
317 school repair projects have been funded to address environmental challenges and make needed infrastructure upgrades
Pennsylvania certified more new teachers last year than at any point in the past seven years.
As a result, Pennsylvania has been ranked by Consumer Affairs as one of the top five states in the nation for public education quality.
"While we watch our federal, Republican colleagues make disastrous decisions, we cannot lose sight of what's important to the people of Pennsylvania and the future of our Commonwealth. Education and the success of our students and teachers has always been a top priority for me," said Senator Vincent Hughes, who serves as the Senate Democratic Appropriations Chair. "I'm proud to have worked with Governor Shapiro and my fellow lawmakers in the Senate and House to bring historic funding to our public schools and continue the fight to fully fix Pennsylvania's unconstitutional education funding system."
“For too long too many kids were left behind by a broken school funding system, but those days are over,” said Representative Roni Green. “We are investing in every kid and every school like Randolph Career and Tech and Mercy Tech and building a better future for our communities. I’m ready to stand with Governor Shapiro to keep fighting for equitable funding, safer school buildings, and helping every kid reach their potential.”
Governor Shapiro’s visit today reinforced a clear message: the historic investments we’ve made are working — and we must keep going to ensure every student has the freedom to chart their own course and the opportunity to succeed.
Watch Governor Shapiro’s full budget address to a joint session of the House and Senate. Read more about the Governor’s 2025-26 budget proposal, explore the Budget in Brief, or visit shapirobudget.pa.gov.
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