Pennsylvania

Poor schools are prepared to return to court if Pennsylvania budget falls short on funding plan

Published

2 years ago

January 5, 2024

Poor schools are prepared to return to court if Pennsylvania budget falls short on funding plan

Lawyers for the school districts that sued have said they will return to court to ask a judge to compel Shapiro and lawmakers to better close the funding gap among districts across the state if a distribution plan isn’t put into place with a reasonable timeframe.

The lawyers analyzed the spending of districts that perform well based on Pennsylvania’s goals and compared that to what the state estimates those districts’ needs are, determining how much every school district should have in order to mirror that same success. On average, school districts are short $2,500 per student, they said.

Their proposal calls on the state to develop a system that finds how much funding is needed to reach the state’s adequacy goals, determine how much funding is missing from each district, and allocate the funds in a consistent, predictable manner beginning in the 2024-25 year. The state should not rely on local tax dollars to fill the gap, they said. It should also consider facilities and pre-K funding.

“The court decision in early 2023 changed the game,” said Susan Spicka, executive director of Education Voters of Pennsylvania. “Lawmakers and the governor can no longer base school funding levels on how much they feel like investing each year as they have in the past. There is a new standard that they must meet, which is ensuring universal access to a comprehensive, effective and contemporary education.”

Public school advocates are likelier to find more support for their plan from the Democratic-controlled House than the Republican-controlled Senate. The majority of state senators are resistant to spending billions of new dollars on public schools and instead have pushed to send more state money to subsidize private schools.

Additionally, while Shapiro made significant investments in public education in his first budget cycle, it did not go as far as public education advocates and other Democrats were hoping.

“Our governor has touted the extraordinary work of the Commonwealth and the city of Philadelphia to repair I-95 in less than two weeks, and we urge that that same resolve and ambition be adopted by the governor and all parties in stopping the school funding lawsuit,” said Donna Cooper, executive director of Children First.

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Pennsylvania

Fire crews try moving burning barge to shallow water in Delaware Bay

Published

25 minutes ago

March 10, 2026

Press Room

Fire crews try moving burning barge to shallow water in Delaware Bay

Delaware, Pennsylvania, and federal agencies have been responding to a barge fire in the Delaware Bay.

The barge, which is carrying salvage metal, is being moved to shallow water so it can be secured, allowing on-scene responders to extinguish the fire and complete salvage operations, according to a March 10 statement from the Delaware Emergency Management Agency.

No injuries have been reported as of 1:15 p.m.

The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) is on scene to perform air monitoring, the statement said.

Responding agencies include the Wilmington Fire Department, Good Will, Leipsic Volunteer, Bowers and South Bowers fire companies. Also there are Delaware State Police, DNREC, New Castle County Office of Emergency Management, Kent County Department of Public Safety, the Delaware Emergency Management Agency and the U.S. Coast Guard Sector Delaware Bay.

The Philadelphia Fire Department was enroute.

This is a developing story. Check back with delawareonline.com for more information.

Send tips or story ideas to Esteban Parra at (302) 324-2299 or eparra@delawareonline.com.

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Pennsylvania

Shapiro wants to incentivize data centers to be better neighbors. Will that work?

Published

13 hours ago

March 10, 2026

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Shapiro wants to incentivize data centers to be better neighbors. Will that work?

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Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania High School Girls Basketball 2026 Playoff Brackets, Schedule (PIAA) – March 10, 2026

Published

1 day ago

March 9, 2026

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Pennsylvania High School Girls Basketball 2026 Playoff Brackets, Schedule (PIAA) – March 10, 2026

The 2026 Pennsylvania high school girls basketball state playoffs begin on Tuesday, March 10, with second-round games for all divisions.

High School On SI has brackets for every division in the PIAA high school girls basketball playoffs. The state championships begin on March 19th.

Pennsylvania High School Girls Basketball 2026 Playoff Brackets, Schedule (PIAA) – March 10-11, 2026

CLASS 1A BRACKET (select to view bracket)

Second Round

New Covenant Christian vs. Delaware County Christian – 03/11

Philadelphia Montgomery Christian Academy vs. Benton – 03/11

Our Lady of Lourdes Regional vs. Motivation – 03/11

Linville Hill vs. Southern Fulton – 03/11

Williamsburg vs. Elk County Catholic – 03/11

Farrell vs. Bishop Carroll – 03/11

Clarion-Limestone vs. Saint Joseph’s Catholic Academy – 03/11

Bishop Guilfoyle vs. Aquinas Academy – 03/11

CLASS 2A BRACKET (select to view bracket)

Second Round

Shalom Christian Academy vs. Southern Columbia Area – 03/10

Faith Christian vs. Mountain View – 03/10

Wyoming Seminary College Prep vs. Marian Catholic – 03/10

York Catholic vs. Berlin Brothersvalley – 03/10

Neshannock vs. Penns Manor – 03/10

Kennedy Catholic vs. Keystone – 03/10

Bishop McCort vs. Chartiers-Houston – 03/10

Winchester Thurston vs. Wilmington Area – 03/10

CLASS 3A BRACKET (select to view bracket)

Second Round

Imhotep Charter vs. Holy Redeemer – 03/10

Pequea Valley vs. Schuylkill Haven – 03/10

Hughesville vs. Notre Dame-Green Pond – 03/10

Dunmore vs. Executive Education Academy – 03/10

Trinity vs. Troy – 03/10

Northwestern vs. Greensburg Central Catholic – 03/10

Shady Side Academy vs. Beaver Falls – 03/10

Central Cambria vs. Karns City – 03/10

CLASS 4A BRACKET (select to view bracket)

Second Round

Susquehanna Township vs. Universal Audenried Charter School – 03/11

Scranton Prep vs. Allentown Central Catholic – 03/11

Central Columbia vs. Villa Joseph Marie – 03/11

Valley View vs. Neumann-Goretti – 03/11

Delone Catholic vs. Penn Cambria – 03/11

Slippery Rock vs. Oakland Catholic – 03/11

Belle Vernon vs. Blackhawk – 03/11

North Catholic vs. Harbor Creek – 03/11

CLASS 5A BRACKET (select to view bracket)

Second Round

Lampeter-Strasburg vs. Mt. St. Joseph Academy – 03/11

Marple Newtown vs. Crestwood – 03/11

Bethlehem Catholic vs. Villa Maria Academy – 03/11

North Pocono vs. Archbishop Wood – 03/11

York Suburban vs. TBD – 03/11

Peters Township vs. Manheim Central – 03/11

South Fayette vs. Penn-Trafford – 03/11

Baldwin vs. Indiana – 03/11

CLASS 6A BRACKET (select to view bracket)

Second Round

Upper Dublin vs. Perkiomen Valley – 03/10

Hazleton vs. Parkland – 03/10

Easton vs. Red Lion – 03/10

Downingtown West vs. Archbishop Carroll – 03/10

Wilson vs. Cardinal O’Hara – 03/10

Pennsbury vs. Altoona – 03/10

Dallastown vs. Emmaus – 03/10

Canon-McMillan vs. Taylor Allderdice – 03/10

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