Allentown, PA – On Jan 17th, Governor Josh Shapiro visited Harrison-Morton Middle School in the Allentown School District in Lehigh County to talk about the historic investments – including more than $2 billion in additional funding – that the Shapiro Administration has secured over the last two years for Pennsylvania’s K-12 students, teachers, and schools. The Governor highlighted the progress that has been made to fund Pennsylvania’s schools, provide students with the resources they need to succeed, and deliver real results to improve Pennsylvania’s system of public education.

“In Pennsylvania, we are making historic investments in our schools to ensure that every child — no matter their ZIP code — has the opportunity to succeed,” said Governor Shapiro. “As we mark two years of getting stuff done, I’m proud to stand here in Allentown to highlight the transformational investments we’ve made in our schools. From universal breakfast for every student to repairing hazardous school buildings, we’re delivering real resources and real results that benefit our students, support our teachers, and strengthen our communities across Pennsylvania. There’s nothing more important than investing in our children and their future, and we’ll continue to work together to deliver for them.”

Since taking office, Governor Shapiro has brought Republicans and Democrats together to make the largest investments in K-12 education in Pennsylvania’s history. His Administration has secured:

• $2 billion in new funding for K-12 schools in the past two budgets, raising total K-12 public education funding to over $11 billion for the first time in Pennsylvania history.

• A new adequacy formula to drive funding out to the schools that need it most, funded by $526 million in its first year.

• $100 million cyber charter reimbursement for public school districts, as well as new oversight requirements for charter and cyber charter schools.

• $275 million for environmental repairs to ensure students learn in safe, healthy environments

• $200 million to expand student mental health services, providing vital resources for student well-being. 

• $65 million in career and technical education (CTE) funding, preparing students for higher education and the workforce, increasing funding for vo-tech by more than 50 percent compared to the year before Governor Shapiro took office.

• Universal free breakfast for 1.7 million students in Pennsylvania, increasing breakfast participation by 10 million meals over last year alone.

“Today’s learners are the future leaders of Pennsylvania and making sure they have everything they need to learn, grow, and chart their own course starts with making sure we are adequately investing in them and their education,” said Interim Acting Secretary of Education Angela Fitterer. “Because of this Administration’s work, more kids are eating breakfast in the morning, more students have mental health support they can count on, and more schools are making crucial infrastructure repairs to keep school environments healthy and safe. I look forward to continuing to invest in our schools and school communities and ensure every student in Pennsylvania has the high-quality education they deserve.”

Harrison-Morton Middle School educates 667 students grades 6th through 8th in the Allentown School District. Thanks to Governor Shapiro’s leadership, the Allentown School District has benefited from unprecedented investments, including:

• $252.8 million in state funding under the 2024-25 bipartisan budget, marking a $90 million increase compared to the year before Governor Shapiro took office.

• $20 million in funding through the new adequacy formula  

• A $2.5 million Public School Facilities Improvement Grant for HVAC upgrades at William Allen High School.

• $522,205 in grant funding to establish the Allentown School District Family and Community Resource Center, set to open later this year.

“These investments are making a real difference for our students and educators,” said Allentown School District Superintendent Dr. Carol Birks. “Thanks to Governor Shapiro’s leadership, we’re creating safer, healthier learning environments and providing critical support for students and their families.”

"Our teachers at Harrison-Morton care so much about us, and I've had so many opportunities here to try new things, express myself, and discover who I am. This school and its environment have helped me grow and learn in ways I never thought possible,” said Josh Colon-Hernandez, a student at Harrison-Morton Middle School. “These opportunities wouldn't have been possible without the support of Governor Shapiro, Dr. Birks, Representative Schweyer, and everyone else who has helped make them happen. On behalf of all the students — especially as a volleyball player and a band student — I want to say thank you."

“Under the leadership of Governor Shapiro, we made some truly remarkable investments and improvements to the way we fund our schools, starting the long processes of fixing years of underfunding,” said House Majority Education Committee Chairman Representative Peter Schweyer. “While we absolutely should celebrate these investments in our children’s futures, we have more work to do to make sure every child has the resources to ensure a bright future. We remain committed to building on last year’s budget, so every Pennsylvania child receives a quality education and the opportunities to succeed.” 

"I'm grateful to welcome Governor Shapiro to the Lehigh Valley and to have such a steadfast advocate for education in the Governor's office. Together with the Allentown delegation in the House, we've worked diligently to make education a top priority, strengthen our communities, foster innovation, and create opportunities for future generations,” said Senator Nick Miller. “A quality education is the cornerstone of a thriving society, and by empowering students to reach their full potential, we prepare them to become the skilled workforce of tomorrow. This year's budget marked a historic milestone with critical funding for school repairs and infrastructure upgrades, ensuring that students can learn in safe, supportive environments. I look forward to building on this progress with continued investments in education across the commonwealth."  

"I want you to know there’s been no stronger ally for the Allentown School District, the city of Allentown, and the Lehigh Valley than Governor Josh Shapiro. Time and again, he and his administration have delivered for our region — whether in economic development, public safety, or public education. As a legislative delegation, we are sincerely grateful for his commitment to the Lehigh Valley,” said Representative Josh Siegel. “Governor Shapiro has a GSD mentality— he gets stuff done. He knows that when we underfund our schools and shortchange our students, it’s not just kids who suffer — the entire state pays the price."

Building a Stronger Future for Pennsylvania’s Students

The Shapiro Administration has focused on commonsense solutions to address systemic challenges in education, including:

• Reducing administrative delays for teacher certifications by 10 weeks. 

• Offering $20 million in student teacher stipends through the Educator Pipeline Support Grant Program, awarding more than 2,000 student teachers $10,000 stipends in the program’s first year.

• Providing free menstrual products in schools through a $3 million investment.

• Redesigning state assessments to minimize testing time and support online administration.

• Appointing two parents to the State Board of Education to ensure parents have a seat at the table when it comes to their children’s education.

Governor Shapiro: Two Years of G-S-D

As Governor Shapiro marks two years in office, he remains focused on bringing people together to build on that progress and accomplish even more for Pennsylvanians. Having visited communities across the Commonwealth hundreds of times, the Governor has listened to the priorities of everyday Pennsylvanians and is committed to continuing his hands-on approach: showing up, solving problems, and delivering results. The Shapiro Administration will continue its work to fund our public schools, invest in our students and support our teachers. Learn more about how the Shapiro Administration is Helping Students Chart Their Course.

Visit Governor Shapiro's Accomplishments website to explore the Administration’s interactive midterm report, and download a detailed PDF overview of accomplishments.