HARRISBURG, Nov. 19 – House Education Majority Chair, state Rep. Peter Schweyer is alerting students and their families that the 2025-26 FAFSA is now open. According to the U.S. Dept. of Education, the 2025-26 FAFSA is now available to everyone as it completes its beta testing period. “Now is the time many high school students are making their decisions on what they want to do and where they want to go for their postsecondary education,” Schweyer said. “By completing the FAFSA, students are taking the first step toward receiving state and federal student aid. This will help open more doors and give more students more options. I strongly encourage students and families to start filing the FAFSA as soon as possible.” Schweyer added, any Pennsylvania students or families who would like to start filling out the FAFSA now can do it online here: StudentAid.gov . Schweyer also currently serves on the Board of Directors for PHEAA. Read more
HARRISBURG, Oct. 10 – School safety administrators, resource officers, advocates and representatives from Pennsylvania agencies detailed the actions and programs they have undertaken to protect students, teachers and faculty from violence today during a House Education Committee hearing on school safety and security in Harrisburg. “School safety does not just mean safety from gun violence but the protection from and prevention of all forms of violence on school grounds,” said state Rep. Peter Schweyer, Majority Chair of the House Education Committee. “School safety is a multi-faceted issue that requires multi-faceted solutions and collaborations. I am pleased to see these agencies and administrators coming together today to have a meaningful conversation on how school safety currently looks across Pennsylvania and what we can do to continue to build on and improve our policies to ensure the safety of our children and teachers.” Thursday’s hearing at the state Capitol in Harrisburg featured testifiers from Sandy Hook Promise, The District Security Officer for the Bethlehem Area School District, the Superintendent of Northeastern School District, as well as members of the Pennsylvania State Police and the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency. Testifiers detailed the various programs and incentives school districts and administrators are undertaking to ensure the safest and secure learning environments are available for Read more
STATE COLLEGE – Sept. 17 Representatives from several Pennsylvania colleges and universities detailed the actions they have undertaken to increase access to college and programs available to ensure college is affordable for students and their families. "An unfortunate reality for far too many students looking ahead to their future is the costs associated with a college degree are too expensive for them to burden,” said Schweyer, Majority Chair of the House Education Committee. “While there have been a lot of steps recently undertaken in this year’s budget to address college affordability, including expand access to scholarships, there is still more we can be doing as legislators to ensure costs are manageable for students and their families." Tuesday’s hearing at the Pennsylvania State University’s brand new Engineering Collaborative Research and Education Building featured testifiers from the Pennsylvania Dept. of Education, Commonwealth University, Penn Highlands Community College and Point Park University. Testifiers detailed the various programs and incentives available for Pennsylvania students to achieve their college degree. “”Affordability, whether it be the cost of textbooks, reasonable housing options, healthcare for students, and so much more impact a person’s decision to matriculate. But even more, it impacts their ability to succeed and thrive,” said Zion Sykes, President of the Read more
HARRISBURG – Sept. 16 The importance of adult literacy to support economic growth and development were highlighted during a Pennsylvania House Education Committee hearing as members heard testimony on what can be done to expand access to these programs. "Many communities across Pennsylvania, including in my district in the Lehigh Valley, have residents that do not have a high school diploma and others who cannot read above a junior high reading level. This severely impacts their ability to work in family-sustaining careers,” said Schweyer, D-Lehigh. “There is an urgent need for adult literacy programs to help these adults expand their education and obtain skills that will ensure employers can fill their job vacancies." Monday’s hearing featured testifiers from Beyond Literacy, Literacy Pittsburgh, The Literacy Center and I-Lead USA. Testifiers detailed the importance adult literacy programs are in communities across Pennsylvania and how their efforts are breaking barriers for adults to be hired in critical industries. “The Learning Center has witnessed significant enrollment increases for GED programs over the last few years,” said Jennifer Doyle, Chief Executive Officer of The Literacy Center. “More adults need to obtain their high school equivalency diploma to further their education and employment opportunities.” “Beyond the economic benefits, adult education fosters stronger families and more Read more
HARRISBURG – Sept. 14 Pennsylvania House Education Committee Majority Chair Peter Schweyer today announced that he has been appointed to serve on the new State Board of Higher Education. “Being both a first-generation college student and a longtime supporter of higher education, it is both a privilege and an honor to be appointed by Governor Shapiro to serve in this capacity on the Board of Higher Education,” said Schweyer, D-Lehigh. “Right now, we are seeing students impacted with rising loan totals and employment shortages in critical fields for our economy. I am looking forward to collaborating with my fellow board members to find solutions and policies to provide more affordable access to higher education.” The new State Board of Higher Education brings together leaders from higher education, the business community, labor, students, legislators, and members of the Shapiro Administration to craft a strategic plan for higher education, coordinate between higher education institutions and sectors, make higher education more accessible and affordable for students, and ensure our Commonwealth’s higher education institutions are training students with the skills and credentials needed to fill critical workforce shortages and power our economy for generations to come. The Board will be tasked to create a new Outcomes-Based Funding Council that will deliver recommendations for how best to fund state-related universities and provide a Read more
HARRISBURG, July 11 – Pennsylvania House Education Committee Majority Chairman, Peter Schweyer, today issued the following statement on the final passage of the 2024-25 state budget: “Tonight, the General Assembly, in a bipartisan manner, passed a state budget that begins to fix decades of underfunding that have left many schools further behind and invests money where it is needed the most. “This is monumental for me, not just as the Majority Chairman of the House Education Committee, but also as the proud parent of two daughters who go to school in the Allentown School District. This budget makes a significant investment in the schools that have been left behind for far too long. “For the Allentown School District, it means they will have the funding needed to provide safe and updated learning environments for students and teachers. For our neighboring school districts, East Penn and Salisbury Township, they can continue to deliver the same high-quality education they have for years.” Schweyer said the 2024-25 state budget provides the following increases to investments in basic and special education for the three school districts in the 134th Legislative District: Allentown School District – $35 million. East Penn School District – $3.1 million. Salisbury Twp. School District – $506,000. Added Schweyer, “This budget goes beyond the borders of the Lehigh Valley, it supports students and Read more
This week, I proudly joined colleagues in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in passing H.B. 2370, a critical first step in the multi-year process of repairing the broken, inadequate and unconstitutional system of funding public education in our Commonwealth. Our plan would make critical and long overdue investments to begin to level the playing field without taking one dime from any district. It also would allow local schools to keep $530 million in local tax dollars and provide over $1 billion in tax relief for overburdened taxpayers. And it would do all of this without a tax increase. This plan delivers for every student in Centre County. In the upcoming school year, districts that serve Centre County students would receive nearly $4.5 million in new funding, including almost $300,000 in tax relief for Bald Eagle Area School District. And by reforming excessive payments to underperforming, unaccountable cyber charter schools - who today receive FAR more than they actually need - our districts would be able to keep $4 million of YOUR tax dollars, while still allowing for school choice. That would be a total of nearly $8.5 million in funding this year to improve our schools, again ?????????????? ?? ?????? ???????????????? . Despite much misinformation and even deception, H.B. 2370 is a reasonable, responsible and sustainable path to ensure full and adequate funding for all. It Read more
HARRISBURG, June 10 – Pennsylvania House Education Committee Majority Chairman, Peter Schweyer, today issued the following statement on the House passage of legislation to significantly improve the school funding system: “Today, my colleagues in the House, in a bipartisan manner, passed a monumental bill that will change the way we fund education in Pennsylvania. A fair and equal education for every Pennsylvania child has been a top priority for me since I first became a legislator, and it has been my most important goal since becoming Chairman of the House Education Committee last year. “I am a very proud parent of two students in the Allentown School District. My oldest daughter attends William Allen High School and my youngest is just wrapping up her 7 th grade year at South Mountain Middle School. I know we have some amazing teachers giving their all to educate our children in ASD, but what I also know is that we are not spending nearly as much money on those students. “Just outside of Allentown is the East Penn School District in Emmaus. That district is doing some incredible work. I had a chance to tour the high school and the students are offered classes on architecture and engineering, with state of the art tools. Nothing in this legislation would take away any of the funding for East Penn students to have these opportunities. What the bill does is ensure that students in districts like Allentown can be Read more
HARRISBURG, June 4 – The Pennsylvania House Education Committee today approved legislation that would bring adequacy, equity and stability to Pennsylvania’s education funding system. “Today, we cleared the first major hurdle to restructure how we fund our public schools and ensure very child in the commonwealth has a quality education,” said House Education Committee Majority Chairman Peter Schweyer. “The Pennsylvania Constitution makes it crystal clear about providing a thorough and efficient public education. With this bill, every kid who works hard would have the tools they need to succeed.” State Rep. Mike Sturla, who served as Co-Chair of the Basic Education Funding Commission (BEFC), sponsored the legislation . “I thank the House Education Committee for reporting out my legislation today that would implement certain recommendations of the BEFC’s Majority Report,” said Sturla (D-Lancaster). “This bill would set us on the right path to meet our constitutional duty of providing an adequate and equitable public education system in Pennsylvania.” Sturla added, his legislation would provide the following: 2024/25 Increases: $728 million for chronically underfunded schools. $665 million in cyber charter savings. $200 million so every school district receives an increase. $136 million in property tax relief. 7-Year Totals: $5.1 billion for chronically underfunded Read more
Let’s get the dirty little secret out right now: Cyber Charter Schools – all Charter Schools, in fact – are paid for with your money. Those property tax bills you pay to your local school district? Parents who choose to send their kids to Cyber Charter Schools get that money for the tuition. All those fancy commercials you see? You’re paying for it. All those ads at sports stadiums you see? You’re paying for it. All those educational trips to theme parks and gift cards for parents you see? You’re paying for it. All those mascots and RVs and giveaways you see at public events? You’re paying for it. Just this week a “non-profit” cyber charter school invited lawmakers to join them for an end-of-the-year celebration at – yes – trampoline parks (about $30 per kid per day admission) all over the state and record videos for the schools. You’re paying for all of it. But there’s something you’re not seeing when it comes to where your money is going when it goes to Cyber Charter Schools. In the last few years, the four biggest Cyber Charter Schools have been padding their bank accounts from just over a half-million dollars to just under a half-*billion* dollars. What’s concerning is a lot of that increase is related to the cybers purchasing buildings and land -- which shouldn’t be a priority for Read more
ALLENTOWN, May 16 – State Rep. Peter Schweyer, Majority Chair of the Pennsylvania House Education Committee, issued the following statement on the passing of former Chair James Roebuck. “For thirty-five years Jim Roebuck distinguished himself in service to the people of West Philadelphia and the children of the entire commonwealth. I was lucky enough to see his example on how to lead the Education Committee and be a fierce advocate who still could compromise and negotiate to make sure the ultimate goal was achieved: better schools for every kid. “My colleagues and I will honor Chairman Roebuck in the best way we can: by living up to his exceptional standards fighting for every kid, and I ask every Pennsylvanian to join us in keeping his loved ones and friends in your prayers.” Read more
HARRISBURG, May 3 – The Pennsylvania House Education Committee convened a public hearing Friday afternoon to discuss initiatives to restore Pennsylvania’s teacher pipeline. State Rep. Peter Schweyer (D-Lehigh), Majority Chairman of the House Education Committee hosted the hearing at the West Chester University Alumni & Foundation Center ballroom. Friday’s hearing featured seven testifiers across three panels, who discuss the impacts of decreasing issuance of Instructional I certificates and the exponential increase in the issuance of emergency permits is having on not only the educator workforce, but also with students in the classroom. “Numbers don’t lie and the numbers for training educators in Pennsylvania are staggering; it’s not an exaggeration to say there is a critical shortage of teachers,” said Schweyer. “Where we used to train roughly 15,000 educators a year, for the past few years, Pennsylvania has been training less than 5,000 educators. We need to ensure we not only support those talented and dedicated people who want to teach in our schools, but also ensure our children are receiving the quality education they are entitled to receive through our state constitution.” Testifiers with PSEA detailed initiatives such as the Educators Rising Program which introduces students who are interested in a teaching career to the professional skillsets and define what they will need in order to be effective Read more
HARRISBURG, May 2 – The Pennsylvania House Education Committee and Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus teamed up for a joint hearing Thursday afternoon to discuss financial support and initiatives for Historically Black Colleges and Universities. State Rep. Peter Schweyer (D-Lehigh), Majority Chairman of the House Education Committee, co-hosted the hearing with state Rep. Napoleon Nelson (D-Montgomery), Chairman of the PLBC at the John Miller Dickey Hall at Lincoln University. The hearing featured more than a dozen testifiers across three panels, who discussed the impacts and necessity for state funding to support the students attending HBCUs. “Investments in higher education can literally be life-changing for many students and that is especially true for those in low-income communities,” said Schweyer. “Lincoln and Cheyney Universities not only provide safe learning environments and paths to success for students, but they are also part of Pennsylvania’s and the country’s history and we need to ensure they continue their mission for generations of students to come.” The hearing also featured testimony from Dr. Brenda A. Allen, President of Lincoln University, Aaron Walton, President of Cheyney University, as well as faculty members and students from both institutions to provide testimony on how these schools have been and continue to prepare students to learn, liberate and lead. “As the nation’s Read more
If my choice for students is to go big or go home, I’m going big. As a member of the Basic Education Funding Commission, I joined with a majority of my colleagues in approving a roadmap that would dramatically change the way that we educate the children in Pennsylvania. Without getting into the very detailed aspects of this report (you can read it at www.basiceducationfundingcommissions.com ) our plan focused on four basic values: Accountability for taxpayers and families. Adequacy for all students in all schools. Equity for those students living in underfunded districts – especially our smaller cities with older housing stock, lots of untaxed government & church property. Stability and predictability for our school districts when it comes to state funding. After months of testimony from students, families, teachers, superintendents, business managers and education experts we created this roadmap to new, significant investments that will deliver better educational outcomes for all our kids, regardless of where they live. Before the predictable crowing comes from the usual naysayers (you know, the special interest funded groups who want nothing more than to turn our kids’ education into a for-profit scheme), please know we are not seeking more money for our schools just for the sake of getting more money. What we are doing is fulfilling the obligation in the Pennsylvania Constitution for all children to receive a quality education. Read more
HARRISBURG, Feb. 6 – Majority Chairman of the House Education Committee, state Rep. Peter Schweyer, D-Lehigh, released the following statement today regarding Governor Shapiro’s 2024-25 budget address: “Today, Pennsylvania families heard the Governor propose a plan to ensure every student from Kindergartener to college senior, has the same access to a quality education regardless of their zip code. For too long, the system in place to fund Pennsylvania schools was leaving too many districts in the red and more egregiously, too many students behind. “What the governor proposed today would be the foundation to be built upon year after year. It would be a $1.3 billion investment to ensure adequacy, equity and stability for all 500 Pennsylvania school districts with an emphasis on the districts that need the most support. This would mean children will have better access to state-of-the-art technology, access to more books, STEAM programs and bring more teachers into classrooms to develop, encourage and nurture the young minds of today. “The governor’s education proposal goes even further. It would provide $300 million for school construction and upgrades. The average age for a school building in Pennsylvania is over 70 years old. Every district from urban, suburban and rural alike has at least one building in need of repairs or upgrades. “In the Allentown School District, where my two daughters attend school, Read more
HARRISBURG, Jan. 17 – As part of his continued commitment to protecting Pennsylvania students, today the House Education Committee, chaired by Majority Chairman state Rep. Peter Schweyer, began two days of hearings to address mental health in schools. “There is no question, Pennsylvania’s children need adequate mental health support to ensure they stay on their path of success,” said Schweyer, D-Lehigh. “However, due to years of underfunding, school districts have faced provider and staffing shortages and as a result, students are left with insufficient programs and support. The hearings this week highlight both the importance of school based mental health support and the immediate need for them to help our children.” House Majority Chair, state Rep. Mike Schlossberg, also attended the hearings. Schlossberg is the legislature’s leading advocate for mental health, founding the House Mental Health Caucus in 2015, working to pass groundbreaking legislation expanding services to first responders, and serving on state and national commissions focusing on improving access to mental health care – sharing his personal struggles to help bring mental health challenges out of the shadows. “I’m thrilled that Chairman Schweyer is holding these hearings. The rise in mental illness – combined with the chronic lack of investment in mental health – means that we need to do more. No more empty words or promises. Read more
HARRISBURG, Jan. 11 – Majority Chairman of the House Education Committee and member of the Basic Education Funding Commission, state Rep. Peter Schweyer, D-Lehigh, released the following statement today regarding the commission’s report on Pennsylvania’s education funding: “Our goal was clear even before the Commonwealth Court decision – every kid in Pennsylvania deserves access to a quality education regardless of where they live. And for far too long, too many kids were being left behind. “The commission traveled across the commonwealth from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh with many stops in between. We heard from hundreds of superintendents, professional educators, think tanks and researchers about all the ways we can improve our system of education. However, the most important stories I took to heart were the stories of two students from an urban school district whose teachers often leave to more lucrative jobs in suburban districts. “These two kids would tell me stories of not having heat in their buildings and classrooms which do not have anything close to modern technology. Their stories were the ones that mattered most to me because those two students are my daughters who happen to attend the Allentown School District. Despite of all of the best efforts of the teachers and professionals at ASD, they can never outrun the fact that they are chronically underfunded. “I refuse to improve districts like mine at the Read more
PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 20 – Today, House Appropriations Committee Majority Chairman Jordan Harris, D-Phila., hosted a news conference at South Philadelphia High School discussing school facilities funding in the 2023-24 state budget. The budget includes $175 million for school facility improvements. Pennsylvania has some of the oldest schools in the country. The average school building is around 70 years old and was built when lead pipes and asbestos were standard building materials. Discoveries of asbestos and other toxins have led to school closures across the Commonwealth, including seven Philadelphia schools in 2023 alone. In the same year, 100 schools statewide closed due to excessive heat. Harris stated that he believes this funding will help to address this issue that’s plagued Pennsylvania schools for a long time. “This funding is paramount to improving the health and safety of our educators, students and school staff, Harris said. “This major Democratic priority is a significant investment and critical step toward ensuring that receiving an education in Pennsylvania does not equate to sick or injured students, teachers, or staff. There is more work to do, and we intend to continue our work until every Pennsylvania school is a safe learning environment for our children.” Harris was joined by members of the Philadelphia House Delegation, including state Rep. Elizabeth Fiedler, D-Phila., and members of the House Read more
I thoroughly enjoyed reading in high school. I related to Holden Caufield’s teenage disillusionment in the Catcher in the Rye . My early political views were shaped in large part through novels like Animal Farm and The Lord of the Flies ; and my healthy cynicism, and randomly, the embrace of my Irish heritage began when I read A Modest Proposal . My senior year English teacher, Ms. Barbara Psathas , knew that I gained much through reading (she taught me as a sophomore as well) and gave me an assignment to write a report on another important piece of American literature. This time, I wasn’t going to read about someone like me, but rather about a little black girl growing up post Great Depression. Toni Morrison’s seminal work, The Bluest Eye , is not something I would have picked up at the Allentown Public Library or at my local Waldenbooks (yes, I am willfully dating myself with that reference). But being exposed to something that was so far outside of my comfort zone helped me developed a sense of empathy and humanity. This was 1996 – nearly thirty years ago while attending a conservative, mostly white religious high school (Allentown Central Catholic High School), in a blue-collar town (Allentown, PA). If I attended high school today, the odds are that I Read more
SHIPPENSBURG, Oct. 19 – The PA House Education Committee convened an informational meeting Thursday morning to highlight the impacts of dual enrollment programs and ensuring college affordability for Pennsylvania students. “As a first generation college student, I know how having affordable college costs was essential for my path to success,” said state Rep. Peter Schweyer, Majority Chairman of the PA House Education Committee. “By keeping tuition and costs low for families and by encouraging educational programs like dual enrollment, we can help students achieve their academic goals and have the same opportunities for success I had.” The meeting, hosted at Shippensburg University, featured testimony regarding the benefits for students who participated in dual enrollment programs from Dr. Ann Bieber, President of Lehigh Carbon Community College. “The educational benefit of dual enrollment begins in high school, as students enrolled in dual enrollment programs are more likely to graduate high school,” said Bieber. “The rigor of the coursework provided by community colleges in turn improves college readiness, which results in higher postsecondary completion rates for dual enrollment program students as compared to their peers.” The hearing also featured testimony on ongoing efforts to make college more affordable for Pennsylvania students and families from Dr. Kara Lakowski, Chair of the Department of Communication Read more
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