K-12 Education

K-12 Education

Ensure each child has an adequate and equitable, high-quality public education, regardless of their zip code. This includes equipping students with supports to meet their special education needs and focusing on building skills to graduate successfully, transition to higher education, or enter the workforce career-ready. 

K-12 Education Policy Goals

  • Support increased investments in basic education and special education funding and evaluate and recommend strategies to address and advance adequacy and equity.
  • Produce publicly available and easily digestible education data disaggregated by race, ethnicity, and gender.
  • Ensure adequate state funding for career and technical education (CTE) so every interested child can participate.
  • Continue to develop a comprehensive and transparent accountability framework for schools and their personnel.
  • Conduct a landscape analysis of how local education agencies offer and provide mental health services to students.

K-12 Education Publications

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Fast Facts about K-12 Education in PA

  • 61.9% of 3rd grade students and 57.9% of 8th grade students score proficient or advanced in English Language Arts as measured by the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA).
  • 56.0% of 3rd grade students and 32.2% of 8th grade students score proficient or advanced in math as measured by the PSSA.
  • More than 1 in 8 students who entered 9th grade four years ago did not graduate by the end of the four years.
  • Pennsylvania ranks 43rd in the nation in the state’s share of education funding.
  • The share of CTE funding is 90% local, 8% state, and 2% federal.
  • 65,536 students are enrolled in career and technical education programs.