Schools That Teach

“It’s just this simple: our state is never going to get stronger as long as we make our schools weaker.”

– Governor Tom Wolf

Over the past two years Governor Wolf has fought to increase funding for Pennsylvania schools by nearly $640 million while implementing a fair funding formula. This is a good start toward reversing the devastating $1 billion in cuts made to schools five years ago, but there is still work to do.

Governor Wolf has made clear his strong commitment to education in Pennsylvania by fighting to restore critical education funding cuts, provide unprecedented support to high-quality pre-k programs, and ensure students are college and career ready. He has fought for more education funding since day one and he has made investment in our schools and our children his top priority.

Working with the legislature, the governor has secured historic increases in his first two years:

• $415 million in basic education funding
• $60 million for early childhood education
• $50 million in special education funding
• $14.6 million for early intervention
• $81.4 million for PASSHE and state-related schools
• $16.4 million for Community Colleges

Additionally, on June 2, 2016, Governor Wolf signed House Bill 1552 into law, which established a fair funding formula and provided emergency funds for two of the commonwealth’s financially distressed school districts. House Bill 1552, now Act 35, establishes a fair, equitable formula for allocating new state funds to Pennsylvania schools. The Basic Education Funding Formula accounts for district-based factors including the wealth of the district, the district’s current tax effort, and the ability of the district to raise revenue.

Governor Wolf continues to advocate for increased funding for Pennsylvania schools to deliver high-quality education to every student across the state, regardless of zip code. We must make investments to adequately and fairly fund our education system in order to lay the foundation for long-term economic growth in Pennsylvania.

“Since taking office, I have traveled our state visiting schools, talking with teachers and parents, and sitting with students in classrooms,” said Governor Wolf. “I’ve seen dedicated teachers and committed students who simply do not have the resources they need. That’s why I have fought to increase school funding by nearly $640 million while implementing a fair funding formula.”

Map of the “Schools That Teach” Tour

Jobs That Pay

“We need to rebuild the middle class, and we can do that by creating good jobs right here in Pennsylvania.”

– Governor Tom Wolf

Since day one, Governor Wolf has made “Jobs that Pay” a priority in Pennsylvania. On Governor Wolf’s “Jobs that Pay” tour, the governor and members of his cabinet heard from business owners, industry leaders, and hardworking Pennsylvanians statewide about what the Wolf administration can do to help them thrive.

“To rebuild the middle class, we need new ideas to create jobs that pay and policies that support our manufacturing and new growth industries,” Governor Wolf said. “Coming from the private sector, I know we must make new investments in 21st century manufacturing and refocus our economic development dollars and strategies. The commonwealth can help set the table for robust private sector growth to create and retain good jobs while strengthening the middle class.”

In 2015, the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) approved more than $1.3 billion in low-interest loans, tax credits, and grants for projects across the commonwealth and secured private sector commitments for the creation and retention of more than 135,000 full-time jobs. In the same timeframe, the Governor’s Action Team completed 58 projects – creating and retaining more than 15,500 jobs.

Governor Wolf continues to support raising workers’ wages by investing in companies and projects to expand employment and raising the minimum wage, which he recently did for state employees, contractors and lessees. In order to remove a barrier to economic growth, Governor Tom Wolf announced the successful January 1 phase-out of Pennsylvania’s Capital Stock and Foreign Franchise tax.

Governor Wolf has prioritized investing in Pennsylvania’s roads, bridges, railways and other infrastructure to set the stage for economic growth. Read more about infrastructure investments across the commonwealth made under Governor Wolf’s administration.

Map of the “Jobs That Pay” Tour

Government That Works

“With commonsense policies and reforms, we were able to strengthen ethical standards, improve efficiency and customer service, and bring greater transparency to your state government.”

– Governor Tom Wolf

For Pennsylvania to be great again, we need a government that restores faith in the fundamental notion that our democracy still works while efficiently providing services to Pennsylvanians. Our government should be transparent and fully accountable, and taxpayers deserve to know how every penny is spent.

Governor Tom Wolf is committed to government reforms that increase efficiency, reduce waste, and eliminate cronyism and corruption, and since his first days as governor, he has been praised statewide for his moves towards transparent government that works in Pennsylvania. To date, GO-TIME has identified more than 200 cost-saving projects in state agencies. GO-TIME projects saved over $150 million in the previous fiscal year.

Governor Wolf has made fighting the opioid crisis a top priority of the administration and is continuing to work across the aisle to address this looming public health issue. The 2016-2017 budget provided funding to implement 45 centers of excellence (COE) throughout the commonwealth that will treat nearly 11,000 people with substance use disorder. Pennsylvania also recently launched a prescription drug monitoring program that will allow prescribers and dispensers to query and report information regarding the number of opioids prescribed, and to whom and recently announced new prescribing guidelines for the safe and effective use of opioids.

Governor Wolf expanded health care access to 640,000 Pennsylvanians, keeping them from either not seeking care or going to the emergency room, which raises costs for insured residents. The governor’s action has dropped the commonwealth’s uninsured population from 14 percent in 2013 to eight percent today.

Online Resources

Map of Statewide Opioid Crisis Discussion Events