Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility Ciresi highlights historic investment in public education, cyber charter reform savings in PA budget

Ciresi highlights historic investment in public education, cyber charter reform savings in PA budget

Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus    November 12, 2025 | 4:13 PM

HARRISBURG, Nov. 12 – After his vote to approve the 2025-26 state budget today, state Rep. Joe Ciresi said he was proud to support the budget because without raising taxes or reducing the Rainy Day Fund, it makes historic investments in education with record savings in cyber charter school funding, thanks to legislation he championed, and critical funding in mental health services in schools.

Pennsylvania’s 2025-26 budget increases total funding for K-12 education by more than $700 million. A longtime champion of cyber charter school funding reform, Ciresi said he was pleased to see that there would be $178 million in cyber charter savings statewide. School districts in the 146th Legislative District alone will save $1.18 million, reflecting savings from adjusting cyber tuition to better reflect the actual costs of teaching kids. Ciresi most recently proposed significant cyber charter funding reforms in his H.B. 1372.

“This budget’s record investments in public education are an investment in Pennsylvania’s future, funding more than a billion new dollars in our schools which help relieve overburdened property taxpayers,” Ciresi said. “The $100 million for school safety and mental health services for our students will help schools provide critical services to kids so they don’t slip through the cracks and help foster safe and secure learning environments.”

Locally, the budget increases funding for Montgomery County school districts, including over $3.9 million in increased funding and cost savings for school districts in the 146th Legislative District: 

  • Pottstown School District: $2,756,146
  • Spring-Ford Area School District: $355,107
  • Pottsgrove School District: $829,264

“In addition to making progress on our commitment to public education, this budget will help grow and expand our economy,” Ciresi said. “This budget provides a tax credit for working Pennsylvanians so they have more money to save and spend; invests in our childcare workers so that they have a living wage and more working parents are able to put their kids in day care so they can pursue their careers; and supports job creation, industry innovation and entrepreneurship in Pennsylvania.”

Ciresi said the budget includes funding increases and new investments to: 

  • Create safer schools and improve access to mental health services for kids with another year of investing $100 million.
  • Put more money back in the pockets of working families with a Working Pennsylvanians Tax Credit. Anyone who qualifies for the Federal Earned Income Tax Credit would automatically qualify for a state-level tax credit of 10% of the federal credit when filing state taxes.
  • Deliver $25 million for quality childcare workers to invest in those who take care of our kids.
  • Invest more than $100 million in job creation, innovation and supporting the entrepreneurs investing in our workers and our communities.