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Board told state budget impasse is blocking federal and state funds; several education bills cited
Summary
Dr. Tazma Morales told the Chester-Upland School District Committee of the Whole that a delayed state budget is preventing the district from receiving federal and state funds and outlined pending legislation on skilled gaming taxes, curriculum changes, a proposed cell-phone ban, 'Johnny's Law' and proposals to alter school funding.
Dr. Tazma Morales, board member, told the Chester-Upland School District Committee of the Whole that Pennsylvania’s state budget remains unsigned and that the delay is holding up federal and state funding the district needs.
"We still don't have a state budget… it's considered an impasse because it's so delayed," Morales said, noting that some federal dollars that had been frozen were released but cannot be accessed by districts without a state-approved budget.
The board was briefed on several bills being discussed in Harrisburg. Morales described lawmakers’ debate over regulating and taxing “skilled games” — small gaming machines found in some retail outlets — and said disagreement over how to allocate those taxes is one of the sticking points in budget talks. "They are not being taxed and we need another source of revenue," she said.
She also summarized multiple education-related proposals: a House bill to create a voluntary K–5 supplemental math program; a Senate proposal for a new high-school biology unit addressing early human life; tighter truancy rules requiring parent notification after three unexcused absences; increased accountability measures for cyber charter attendance; a House bill to fund schools that purchase Pennsylvania-grown food and emphasize scratch cooking; and a proposed statewide cell-phone ban in schools that Morales said is intended to reduce disruptions but will raise parental concerns.
Morales said the Senate is considering legislation referred to in the meeting as "Johnny's Law" (cited by a meeting speaker as bill 982) to expand anti-bullying requirements to social media and to require that parents be notified within 24 hours of incidents; she said the bill still needs clarification on whether the requirement applies only to in-school activity or broader online conduct.
On school finance, Morales described a proposal to eliminate school property taxes and replace them with broader revenue sources such as local and state income and sales taxes, framing the change as an equity argument about who bears the cost of public education. She also said some proposals would expand school choice through vouchers and education savings accounts aimed at students in the bottom 15 percent academically.
No formal board action or vote was taken on these items during the meeting; Morales presented the legislative landscape as context for district planning and potential financial impacts. The committee adjourned after questions about Perkins/CTE items were addressed by staff.
