SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — As students are getting ready to wrap up the school year, Governor Josh Shapiro is touring the state to spotlight the impact of education funding.
On Wednesday, that tour brought him to Scranton. The governor made his way to Isaac Tripp Elementary, highlighting how these investments in public education are starting to pay off for students, teachers, and families.
The visit to Isaac Tripp Elementary comes as Scranton celebrates a nearly $30,000,000 increase in state funding under Governor Shapiro, dollars now being used to restore programs, expand mental health support, and improve buildings district-wide
"These are our children, and they deserve nothing less, as the governor said, than a high quality future focused education that prepares them for those jobs and those careers that are coming at us in the future and that's why every dollar does count for us, so that we can make our students viable and productive members of a 21st century economy," Scranton School District Superintendent Doctor Erin Keating stated.
Dr. Keating says the district has brought back preschool, added social workers and counselors, and reinstated arts and technology in middle schools thanks to that state support.
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"When schools are properly funded adequately, administrators and directors like can make sure that students have the best opportunity to learn and to grow, and our teachers that have the resources they need to facilitate that growth," Scranton School Board President Ty Holmes said.
Isaac Tripp is already showing growth. Math scores are up 7%, science scores up nearly 10%, and attendance is rising by 8%.
"Scranton School District is indeed on the rise. I saw where it was years ago. I see where it is today, and it is because of so many people. This is an example of what is possible when we both work together and when we meet our constitutional obligation to our children," Governor Shapiro explained.
Governor Shapiro says what's happening in Scranton is exactly what his education budget is designed to do: create opportunity across every zip code.
Shapiro says he's pushing for another half a billion dollars in the next budget to keep this kind of momentum going across Pennsylvania.
