SCRANTON, LACKWANNA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — The Shapiro Administration has awarded $123.4 million to the Scranton School District as part of a three year progress plan to fund schools around Pennsylvania, according to a press release by the administration.
Teachers, students and local leaders met with Governor Josh Shapiro at Neil Armstrong Elementary School on Wednesday, Sept. 2, to highlight how the 2026-27 state budget plans to allocate funds for education.
According to the release, the Scranton School District received $123.4 million out of $678 million of additional funding set aside to fund important areas like school infrastructure, mental health, school safety, and free breakfast for students.
Dr. Erin Keating, Superintendent at Scranton School District, said the district had been underfunded for some time, and is looking forward to the doors a large sum like this will open for students.
As a historically underfunded district, the funding we received has made a monumental impact and has already opened doors to make teaching and learning more robust in the Scranton school district and we look forward to a future where zip code does not determine a child’s educational offerings.
This is the latest initiative by the Shapiro Administration to address the financial needs of the school districts around the state, adding to three years of contributions spanning his time in office.
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Dr. Carrie Rowe, Secretary of Education at the Department of Education, emphasized the importance of students feeling supported through their education with the proper resources.
“When a student walks through the doors of a Pennsylvania school ready to learn, they should know that they are entering a place where they are safe, supported, and will have their basic needs met – like a free breakfast every day,” said Rowe, “Governor Shapiro’s historic investments in education are giving schools the resources to make that promise real.”
The investments in this year’s budget include:
$565 million increase through the bipartisan adequacy and tax equity formula, a total of $1.9 billion
$58 million increase to Basic Education Funding, a total of $8.32 billion.
$55 million increase to Special Education Funding, a total of $1.58 billion
125 million for school infrastructure improvements
$25 million for the Solar for Schools program to lower energy costs and promote sustainability.
$100 million in mental health and school safety funding for K–12 schools
1.7 million for Universal Free Breakfast and $3 million for menstrual hygiene products at no cost.
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