Rivera applauds historic investments in education and support for working families in 2026-27 state budget
Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus July 13, 2026 | 3:30 PM
HARRISBURG, July 13 – Drawing on her 30 years as a public high school teacher, state Rep. Nikki Rivera, D-Lancaster, highlighted the 2026-27 state budget’s historic investments in education and support for working families as making Pennsylvania a more equitable place to live today and in the future.
“I know from my own experience and that as a teacher, a high-quality education opens doors long after graduation,” Rivera said. “This budget will ensure that historically all Pennsylvania’s students have access to the skills and knowledge that will enable them to adapt and thrive in an increasingly competitive global workforce.”
The budget makes a $670 million investment statewide in education, which includes a $565 million increase to help rectify historic funding discrepancies and a $58 million increase in basic education and $47 increase in special education funding, to ensure every student can succeed.
Rivera said the school districts in the 96th Legislative District will benefit from significant funding increases:
- Lancaster School District $4.2 million (4% increase)
- Manheim Township School District $1.9 million (11.7% increase)
- Hempfield School District $900,000 (3.6% increase)
Rivera was pleased with the budget’s protections of cyber charter school students.
“This budget would ensure that cyber charter schools are accountable for student safety by requiring teacher and staff supports similar to their peers in brick-and-mortar schools,” Rivera said.
Rivera said she was very pleased that the budget increases funding to the impactful Student Teacher Stipend program.
“This budget makes it possible for people who have dreamed of becoming a teacher to have the opportunity to earn a stipend during student teaching,” Rivera said. “It’s money well invested.”
Rivera said the budget recognizes the contributions of Pennsylvania’s retired educators by providing their first cost-of-living adjustment in 25 years.
“As someone who was inspired and influenced by Pennsylvania’s teachers as a student and later had the privilege of working alongside them, I am especially proud that this budget for the first time in 25 years has provided a cost-of-living adjustment to nearly 60,000 educators who retired before 2002,” Rivera said. “These dedicated educators gave their all to preparing Pennsylvania’s children for success. This COLA will ensure they can live their retirement with dignity.”
A noted conservationist, Rivera highlighted that the budget requires data centers, with a peak capacity demand of more than 10 megawatts, for the first time to report energy and water use annually to Pennsylvani Department of Environmental Protection.
“Pennsylvanians have been left in the dark about how much electricity and water data centers consume,” Rivera said. “This budget turns on the light by requiring greater transparency and accountability, so Pennsylvanians can better understand how these facilities affect their utility bills and the environment.”
Rivera also highlighted several measures that support working Pennsylvanians. First, the Working Pennsylvanians Tax Credit will return nearly $200 million to 950,000 families, helping to alleviate financial pressures.
As a working mother, Rivera said the 20% increase in funding for the Child Care Recruitment and Retention Program, bringing the total to $30 million, will help expand access to child care, enabling more parents to remain in the workforce while supporting the recruitment and retention of child care professionals.
“As the cost of living continues to rise, many families simply can't make ends meet on a single income,” Rivera said. “At the same time, stepping away from the workforce to care for children can have long-term effects on a parent's career and earning potential. This investment is a win-win for working families because it helps ensure children receive quality care while supporting the professionals who make that care possible.”
Rivera also praised the budget's nearly $24.2 million investment in rape crisis response, which almost doubles state funding for those essential services.
“We’ve been fighting for increased funding for rape crisis centers for years,” Rivera said. “This funding will help ensure sexual assault survivors can access timely, coordinated and comprehensive support that support healing and recovery.”
The budget also includes the following funding increases and new investments:
- A 9.1% increase for early intervention services for children with developmental delays.
- A 31% increase for Grow PA scholarships, which offer grants to in-state students who attend college in Pennsylvania, pursue a degree in a high-demand industry and agree to live and work in that industry in Pennsylvania after graduation.
- Maintained funding levels for the program that provides cash grants to counties for the purchase and distribution of food to low-income individuals and for farmers market food coupons – both of which received large increases in the previous budget.
- $6 million for avian flu surveillance and response.
- A requirement for daily recess for students in kindergarten through fifth grade, recognizing the importance of physical activity, play and student well-being.
- Critically needed increases for Pennsylvania’s medical assistance and Children’s Health Insurance Program, along with funding to transition to chip-enabled cards for food assistance recipients.
“This budget addresses the wide range of challenges facing Pennsylvanians today by making targeted investments that will strengthen our communities, expand opportunity and build a secure future for everyone,” Rivera said.