ALLENTOWN, Sept. 12 – Testifiers detailed the critical importance of adequate funding for school districts to address building repairs, upgrades and maintenance to keep students and faculty safe during a Basic Education Funding Commission hearing today. “Mother Nature helped prove the need is right now for school building funding with the oppressive heat wave last week,” said Schweyer, Majority Chairman of the PA House Education Committee (D-Lehigh). “Many school districts across PA closed or adjusted to virtual learning during the extreme heat because there was no air conditioning or means to protect students and staff from the excessive temperatures. Our children have waited long enough and should not have to continue to learn in substandard conditions.” The hearing was hosted by Schweyer and state Sen. Nick Miller at the Allentown School District Administration Building and included testimony from the superintendents of the Allentown, Bethlehem and Salisbury school districts as well as other education advocates to discuss the impacts of classroom environments on students’ abilities to learn. "I am glad the BEFC began the hearings right here in Allentown. As a former school board member, education has long been a passion of mine. My district includes 10 school districts, ranging from rural to suburban to urban, across the Lehigh Valley, all with unique needs we are addressing,” said Miller, D-Lehigh. “Listening to Read more
“I actually think the basic education formula needs to include a consideration for the age and deficiencies of buildings,” Schweyer said. “School districts that have old, beat-up buildings should get additional funding in the basic education formula.” Read more
State House Education Committee Chairman Rep. Peter Schweyer, D-Lehigh, pointed to Parkland School District’s wealthier tax base, which includes warehouses and Dorney Park. He said the district is also the fourth-largest district statewide. Read more
House Education Committee Chair Peter Schweyer, D-Lehigh, said the fiscal code, which directs how money in the budget is spent, showed the Senate was playing politics instead of negotiating in good faith. Read more
Pa. state Rep. Peter Schweyer, Chairman of the House Education Committee, joined House Appropriations Committee Chairman Jordan Harris to announce a statewide tour to discuss and find solutions to adequately fund public education across the commonwealth. Schweyer says the disproportionate funding over the years is immoral, ineffective and unconstitutional and must finally be addressed. Read more
Rep. Schweyer, who is also a member of the funding commission, said he sees their hearings as adding “more datapoints and more expert testimony to what the Basic Education Funding Commission is doing to add to what the court case said.” Read more
ALLENTOWN, Aug. 31 – State Rep. Peter Schweyer, D-Lehigh, is alerting local veterans that his monthly support program will be held on Friday, Sept. 15 at his district office in Allentown. A representative from the American Legion will be available for appointments at Schweyer’s district office, 1501 Lehigh St., Suite 206. Appointments are available from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The service officer will be available to assist veterans and their families with benefits and services available to them. The representative also will be available to discuss pensions and other compensation, as well as education, health care and death benefits. Legion membership is not required; however, anyone interested in speaking with the adviser should schedule appointments by contacting Schweyer’s office at 610-791-6270. Read more
Pa. state Rep. Pete Schweyer stands with Governor Josh Shapiro to highlight an almost $30 million investment in workforce training and apprenticeship programming. Schweyer says programs like these prepare more Pennsylvanians to realize the American dream, earning while they learn the skills to secure a high quality, family sustaining job. Read more
Schweyer, who lives only a quarter mile from the campus, championed the efforts of organizations like the Eastern Atlantic States Carpenters Technical College to provide students with an option to earn a good living doing vital jobs they enjoy. Read more
State Rep. Peter Schweyer, D-Lehigh, said the education received at a joint apprentice training center can help build a good, middle-class life. Read more
State Rep. Peter Schweyer, a Democrat from Lehigh County, said that although prioritization of funds should ultimately be decided by school districts themselves, funding for facilities is certainly a good place to start. Read more
Committee Majority Chairman Rep. Peter Schweyer, D-Allentown, said delayed payments are the last thing schools should have to worry about because of “a stupid process where people worry more about elbowing their way and finding leverage inside of the building, and not looking at how we’re actually impacting the lives of human beings we are elected to serve.” Read more
Pa. state Rep. Peter Schweyer sat down with American Public Television at the National Conference of State Legislators Annual Summit in Indianapolis to discuss all things education. Schweyer, who chairs the House Education Committee, was grateful for the opportunity to learn how other states are addressing their education issues and plans to bring that knowledge back to Harrisburg as the fight to adequately fund our public education system continues. Read more
“We need to be able to walk and chew gum at the same time,” said Rep. Peter Schweyer. “We can’t sacrifice the the 2023/2024 school year while we’re trying to create and invent a better light bulb in the next few years. This level-up funding is so important.” Read more
State Rep. Peter Schweyer, chairman of the Pennsylvania House Education Committee, joined school administration staff, teachers, parents and fellow legislators in Allentown this morning to speak about the importance of improving education. Read more
State Rep. Peter Schweyer, (D)-District 22, and his Democratic colleagues disagree that the funding needs separate code. "This has been in law. We have a formula. We have a formula that's been used multiple times." Read more
The PA House Education Committee held an informational hearing on August 10, 2023 on Level Up funding and its impacts on school districts across Pennsylvania. Testimony includes: Public Interest Law Center, Teach Plus, Carter & MacCrae, William Penn School District, Lancaster School District and Pottstown School District. Read more
State Rep. Peter Schweyer, D-Lehigh, is alerting local veterans that his monthly veterans outreach program will be held Friday, Aug. 18 at his district office in Allentown. Read more
Allentown Representative Pete Schweyer, who chairs the education committee, says with a Commonwealth Court ruling declaring the state’s school funding unconstitutional, schools have to be adequately funded before that debate can begin. Read more
“We fundamentally know that the way we fund education in Pennsylvania is in fact broken,” Rep. Peter Schweyer, D-Allentown and chair of the education committee, said. “(We’re) advocating and rallying around a better fair-funding formula that will put us in a position to make sure every kid gets what they need to be successful.” Read more
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