The Senate Appropriations Committee heard testimony from the Department of Education in their morning and afternoon budget hearing sessions today.

While the lawmakers discussed facets of state funding formulas and the spending increases Governor Josh Shapiro is proposing for the 25/26 fiscal year; Democrats were also attuned to potential fund cuts coming down from the federal government.

Pennsylvania spends a third of the state’s budget-- over $18 billion— on education each year. Some of it goes towards teacher pensions and higher education, but over $13 billion gets divvied up between the state’s 500 school districts. How to divvy that money up is a major talking point every year with lawmakers.

This week, U.S. Congress voted on a budget resolution that cuts the U.S. Education Department funding by $330 billion over the next 10 years. That budget bill still has to go through the Senate before it’s signed by President Trump.

“We will not go down quietly. We will use our voices. We are loud. And this is just the beginning because we will get louder,” Sen. Amanda Cappalletti said, during a press conference today. 

Senate Democrats and education advocates sounded alarms over the potential cuts; with senators on the appropriations committee focusing on this week’s budget bill but also what could happen if other rumored policies— like dismantling the education department all together— were to happen.

“We have to do what we can here in Harrisburg to protect the state funding,” Sen. Vincent Hughes said, Democrat chair of the appropriations committee. "But if that becomes a reality in Washington D.C., it becomes a much different conversation here in Pennsylvania."

Pennsylvania gets roughly $2.8 billion in federal funds for public school districts. The money comes through specific programs for things like special education and support for students from low income families (called Title 1). These funds give targeted investments, and often make up less than 5% of a school districts budget.

Most of a school districts budget comes from local taxes and state funds; though administrators say losing any government funding puts more pressure on local tax payers to fill the gap.

“I wish we'd hear just a little more from the other side related to how we're going to fix Pennsylvania's issues,” Sen. Scott Martin said, Republican appropriations chair, "and a lot less about what the unknown is at this very moment coming out of Washington D.C.."

At the state level, lawmakers have a mandate from a Commonwealth court case two years ago that says many school districts over reliance on local taxes is unconstitutional; confirming that a quality education is the responsibility of the state to ensure to all students.

Last year, lawmakers updated the current funding formula that distributes money to the 500 school districts. They also created a new ‘adequacy’ formula that gives more money to schools with high local taxes or other funding shortfalls.

This year, Shapiro wants to increase funds that go through the adequacy formula by $526 million. He also proposed a $75 million increase going through the regular funding formula, $40 million increase to special education funding, and $25 million increase for safe and healthy school funds (which can be used to update buildings and facilities).

Republicans remain wary that increased spending has not lead to better student academic performance. They also note that demographically, Pennsylvania student populations are decreasing. Those factors combined with a looming budget deficit at the state level are shaping Republican conversations on the topic.

“It has to be accountability. Or at least more than just, hey, here's a check. Do whatever you want with it,” Martin said. "If our kids can't read at level, they can't write. If they can't do basic math skills, that's a real problem."