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Smith-Wade-El praises bipartisan budget’s historic investment in public education

Rep. Ismail Smith-Wade-El    November 12, 2025 | 4:54 PM

HARRISBURG, Nov. 12 –As a fervent advocate for access to high-quality education for everyone and support for the vulnerable, state Rep. Ismail Smith-Wade-El, D-Lancaster, is highlighting historic investments in Pennsylvania’s school districts and support for the food insecure as reasons for his support of this year’s budget, which was signed by the governor today.

Pennsylvania’s 2025-26 state budget increases total funding for K-12 education by more than $700 million. Smith-Wade-El said he was extremely pleased to see that the budget is allocating $600 million to ensure that all of Pennsylvania’s students and schools have access to the resources and opportunities needed for academic success. There will also be $178 million in school district savings statewide – reflecting reforms in cyber-charter school funding that will better reflect the actual cost of teaching kids.

“Access to a high-quality education is the foundation for our social health and economic success today and in the future,” Smith-Wade-El said. “This budget’s record investments in public education will help level the playing field and open up doors to academic and professional success for Pennsylvania’s most vulnerable kids.”

Locally, the budget increases funding for Lancaster County school districts, including over $8.2 million in increased funding and cost savings for school districts in the 49th Legislative District: 

  • Lancaster School District                            $4,934,776                     5% increase
  • Penn Manor                                                  $3,288,167                14.4% increase

“I’m also glad to see the 5% increase in Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology’s funding to $23.6 million,” Smith-Wade-El said. “This money will help grow and support this great local institution that provides a pathway to opportunities in higher education for those who might not otherwise believe that’s a possibility for them.”

Smith-Wade-El also pointed to the budget’s investment of $40 million more in funding to feed hungry Pennsylvanians and support family farms at a time when the Trump administration has frozen federal SNAP payments since the beginning of the month.

“It’s the job of responsible government to care for people’s welfare,” Smith-Wade-El said. “Though the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania can’t backfill the millions that the Trump administration and the Republican Congress has taken away to pay for tax cuts for the rich, we will do what we can to prevent Pennsylvanians from going hungry.”

The budget also includes the following funding increases and new investments: 

  • Creates safer schools and improve access to mental health services for kids with another year of $100 million investments.
  • Strengthens early education by investing in high-quality, affordable pre-k programs.
  • Invests three quarters of a billion dollars for Medical Assistance Managed Care.
  • Invests $21 million for participant-directed homecare to raise wages to $15/hour and establishes paid time off for over 8,000 participant-directed homecare workers.
  • Invests $150 million more to help Pennsylvanians with intellectual disabilities.
  • Puts 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 will automatically qualify for a state-level tax credit of 10% of the federal credit when filing local taxes.
  • Delivers $25 million for quality childcare workers to invest in those who take care of our kids.
  • Supports rape crisis centers and domestic violence programs, which ensure survivors get the critical care and resources they need.
  • Invests more than $100 million in job creation, innovation and supporting the entrepreneurs investing in our workers and our communities.
  • Improves permit approval speeds when excessive state delays hold local business growth back.
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