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Pennsylvania
Here’s some of what’s in the bill that directs historic new Pa. education funding • Pennsylvania Capital-Star
Perhaps the most significant number in the 2025 budget is $1.1 billion in new spending on K-12 education.
The funding comes after Commonwealth Court declared that Pennsylvania’s current method of funding public schools was unconstitutional, citing inequities between the state’s wealthiest school districts and its poorest.
While the general appropriations bill — the legislative centerpiece of the budget — outlines how much money will go towards education in the coming year, it’s another bill that tells the state how it can spend those funds: the public school code bill.
Code bills are passed alongside the budget. While the general appropriations bill says how much money each part of the government will get, the code bills more or less lay out how those dollars can be spent.
The bill also contains what are effectively individual policies, from the massive new funding formula that will change how money is distributed to Pennsylvania’s school districts, to smaller policy points, like allowing schools grants to provide menstrual hygiene products.
Here are some of the big items that made it into this year’s code bill:
The new funding formula
Arguably the most substantive part of the bill lays out how more than $526 million in adequacy and equity grants will be distributed to Pennsylvania’s school districts based on factors like the student poverty rate.
Because schools receive so much funding from property taxes, school districts where property values are lower have an inherent disadvantage.
The $526 million in new funds is intended to shrink that equity gap, and award extra money to schools with high levels of poverty among its students and greater numbers of kids whose primary language isn’t English.
What data would drive those funds was one of the biggest sources of contention between Democrats and Republicans during the drawn-out budget negotiations.
Democrats had hoped to use data reported by the school districts themselves, while Republicans wanted to use U.S. Census data.
Rep. Mike Sturla (D-Lancaster), who was a leader in creating the House Democrats’ version of a funding formula, said, “the schools have a pretty good idea when they’re talking to these parents whether or not they’re making $30,000 a year or they’re making $300,000.”
He said that census data has historically underreported poverty.
However, Senate Republicans, who ultimately won out, said that the self-reported data is too hard to verify.
Ultimately, the parties agreed to use census figures.
Democrats had to make other concessions in the fight over equity funding as well. Back in February, Gov. Josh Shapiro had proposed spending $872 million on closing the equity gap, a number that was rejected by Republicans.
Charter school restraints
When a student attends a charter school, the charter school gets money that would have gone to the student’s school district. The amount is based on the average per-student spending of that school district, with a separate formula for students with disabilities..
The code bill establishes a formula for reimbursing traditional public schools for some of the money that follows would-be students to cyber charter schools. The budget set aside $100 million for that purpose. It also changes the formula for how much money follows students with special needs, which is estimated to save public schools $34.5 million.
The bill would also force charter schools to put in their advertisements that they were paid for with taxpayer dollars, a largely symbolic victory for Democrats who opposed money intended for public schools going to charters.
It also makes new requirements of charter school board members. At least five must be non related voting members. Charter schools will also be required to make certain budget documents public.
Security and mental health grants
Schools will receive $120 million to provide security and mental health services. Every school will now be required to have a security guard, and the money can go to funding that position. Plus, those security guards can be armed.
Of that, $20 million is set aside for safety grants for non-public schools and school entities like charters.
Odds and ends
The bill also provides funding for policies that had been included in bills that were introduced through the traditional legislative process, but never completed by the House or Senate.
That includes up to $3 million for grants that would allow schools to purchase feminine hygiene products. The idea appears similar to one proposed in a House bill sponsored by Rep. Darisha Parker (D-Philadelphia).
Rep. Stephanie Borowicz (R-Clinton) said the free tampons could promote “communism” when the bill was debated on the House floor. The bill was never taken up in the Republican-controlled Senate.
Funding for a grant program that would allow schools to lock students’ cell phones away during the school day mirrors a bill sponsored by Sen. Ryan Aument (R-Lancaster). That bill passed the Senate, but never appeared in the House.
The public school code bill would allow some of the school safety and mental health funding to go towards the purchase of special bags that can be locked during the day for students to place their phones in — so long as the school comes up with a policy prohibiting cell phone use during the school day.
(WHTM) – Thousands of residents across Central Pennsylvania are without power after strong storms hit the area on Sunday night.
According to PPL, nearly 1,000 customers in Dauphin County are without power, with a majority of customers affected being in Middle Paxton Township. PPL estimates those customers will have power back by 7 p.m. on Monday.
In Perry County, nearly 800 customers have been affected, with most outages in Carroll Township, Northeast Madison Township, Rye Township, and Saville Township.
New Valley Road in Marysville saw trees and wires down in the roadway.
Cumberland County has more than 1,900 customers without power. Carlisle Borough and Middlesex Township saw the most outages in the county.
Hundreds of First Energy Customers in York County are also in the dark. A majority of the outages are in Chanceford Township and Shrewsbury Township.
GROVE CITY, Pa. (MyValleyTributes) – Jeral R. Johnson, age 88, formerly of E. Prospect Street in Girard, passed away on Thursday, June 11, 2026, at Doctor’s Hospital in Columbus, surrounded by the love and comfort of his family.
Jeral was born Aug. 1, 1937, in Youngstown, a son of the late Jeral and Elizabeth Hulick Johnson and was a lifelong area resident.
He was a 1954 graduate of McDonald High School and proudly served his country in the United States Navy as a sonar man, attaining the rank of petty officer.
Following his military service, Jeral worked as a crane operator at U.S. Steel for 27 years. He also dedicated 40 years of service to the United States Postal Service as a letter carrier.
Jeral was a member of St. Rose Church in Girard and the Elks Lodge 37 in Columbus. In his younger years, he was an avid bowler who participated in numerous leagues and achieved the rare accomplishment of bowling a perfect 300 game. He also enjoyed golfing and visiting casinos. Above all, Jeral cherished the time he spent with his family, especially his grandchildren.
Jeral leaves to cherish his memory his two daughters, Karen (Todd) Scarbrough, with whom he made his home and Janeen (Robert) Pasho of Marshallville; two grandsons, Ryan Pasho (fiancée, Ella Pumneo) of Rittman and Derek Pasho of Marshallville; two brothers, Robert Johnson of Greensburg, Pennsylvania and Thomas (Lindsay) Johnson of Big Bear, California; his sister, Bonnie (Rick) Sanchez of Akron; and many extended family members.
His wife of 53 years, the former Patricia J. Kozyro, whom he married April 24, 1965, died on June 21, 2018.
In addition to his wife and parents, Jeral was preceded in death by a sister, Judith Johnson; and a sister-in-law, Debra Johnson.
Family and friends may call from 9:30 – 10:30 a.m., on Wednesday, June 17, 2026, at Kinnick Funeral Home, 222 S. State St., Girard. Funeral services will begin at 10:30 a.m., at the funeral home and continue with a Mass of Christian Burial to be celebrated at 11:00 a.m., at St. Rose Church, 48 E. Main St., Girard.
Interment will follow at Calvary Cemetery in Youngstown, where Jeral will be laid to rest beside his beloved wife.
In lieu of flowers, Jeral’s family suggests memorial contributions be made to Elks Lodge 37, 2140 Sonora Drive, Grove City, OH 43123, St. Rose Church, or to a local veterans organization of the donor’s choosing.
A television tribute will air Monday, June 15, at the following approximate times: 6:47 a.m. on WYTV, 9:43 a.m. on WKBN, 10:58 a.m. on FOX and 8:12 p.m. on MyYTV. Video will be posted here the day of airing.
A top Pennsylvania high school football team has relieved its head coach from that position following a major controversy.
In a report by CBS News out of Pittsburgh, McKeesport High School’s Matt Miller has resigned as the head coach after his entire coaching staff was not rehired.
Report: Members Of Coaching Staff Involved In Murder Trial
The decision to not bring back members of Miller’s staff at McKeesport came about following a 2016 incident that grew to include involvment in a murder trial.
“While I am deeply disappointed by these decisions, my main concern, as always, is for the student athletes who will be impacted by these actions,” Miller said in a statement provided to the site. “My coaching staff and I have consistently led a successful program with accomplishments that speak for themselves.”
The latest controversy came about with the sentencing of Isaac Smith, who was convicted of killing Karli Short, the daughter of Brandon Short, along with her unborn baby. Smith was sentenced to life in prison for the 2021 murder.
Incident Took Life Of Former NFL Player Brandon Short’s Daughter, Unborn Baby
Short played in the NFL and was a standout at Penn State University. He stated in the report that a former teammate testified as a character witness on behalf of Smith and that two of those men were members of the Church of Life in Christ, which is headed by Pastor Guy Miller, the father of Matt Miller. Allen Wright, also a former player, said that two character witnesses for Smith were assistant coaches on the team.
Matt Hotlzman, part of the McKeesport Board of Directors, stated during a meeting with the board that he was “calling for the resignation of this entire football coaching staff right now.”
School Board Of Directors Made Decision To Remove All Members Of Coaching Staff
McKeesport Superintendent Donald MacFann said in a statement posted to the school’s official Facebook page that the board has “voted ot table the hiring of football coaches due to personnel-related matters,” and that “the District is unable to disclose additional details.”
The Tigers went 9-4 in 2025, including a perfect 5-0 league record. They were defeated by Aliquippa, 21-12, in the Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League Class 4A championship game. McKeesport entered the game as the No. 1 team, but a late touchdown pass on fourth-and-long secured the 21st championship for Aliquippa.
Under Miller, the Tigers have had plenty of success, including multiple nine-plus win seasons. They never finished with a losing record.
McKeesport is set to open the 2026 season against Brashear at home on Friday, August 28.
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