Michael Sauers

January 26, 2026

Kudos to Public Interest Law Center, Education Law Center and O’Melveney & Meyers, LLP for initiating, pursuing and succeeding with a landmark decision regarding public education funding in Pennsylvania. February 7, 2023 was historic for students in the Commonwealth.

Then along came the proverbial “sticks in the spokes”, “stones in the shoes”, and “tacks on the seats”. I’m referring to the State Legislature, Governor Shapiro and PA Department of Education.

Instead of addressing the situation in its entirety, they chose the “kick the can down the road” approach, adopting a multi-year (7-10 years) funding plan. This plan is subject to political interference which we have already witnessed, mostly by anti-public education Republicans.

An initial fix would have been in the area of 5 billion dollars. At that time, Pennsylvania had a surplus of 12 to 15 billion dollars. It continues to have an eight billion dollar surplus.

Students were shortchanged for decades and they continue to be shortchanged by the business as usual legislative approach in Harrisburg. Actions speak louder than words and the rhetoric coming out of the state capitol is pure “bullshit”.

Also, throw in the statewide, disgusting practice of nepotism in teacher hiring, EITC and OSTC corporate welfare loopholes and you have public education students being punished.

Again, thank you to the above entities for their relentless pursuit of education justice.