Harrisburg City School District Exits State Receiverhip; Local Board to Resume Control

Acting Secretary of Education Dr. Carrie Row announced that the Shapiro administration will end state receiverhip of the Harrisburg City School District effective June 17, 2025, returning governance to the district’s elected school board.

"Effective June 17th, the Shapiro administration is officially ending the receiverhip of the Harrisburg City School District," Dr. Carrie Row said, calling the milestone “historic” and noting the district serves more than 6,400 learners.

The move restores local control after six years under a court‑appointed receiver. Under the plan outlined in remarks by receiver Dr. Lorie Suski and Pennsylvania Department of Education officials, the elected board will assume its full responsibilities on June 18 and hold its first meeting without a receiver on June 24. The Department of Education said the exit begins a five‑year monitoring phase during which the department will continue technical support.

Dr. Suski, who served as the court‑appointed receiver, said the achievement reflected sustained effort across two phases of recovery and multiple partners. "It has truly been my honor to serve the Harrisburg City School District as court‑appointed receiver over the last three and a half years," she said, and she recognized district staff, advisory committee members and outside partners who helped implement the amended recovery plan.

Superintendent Dr. Benjamin Henry, who said he joined the district just over six months ago, framed the exit as a beginning rather than an endpoint. "This milestone is a result of hard work and commitment and countless hours from dedicated staff, community members, and most importantly, our family and our students," Henry said, and urged sustained focus on academic progress.

State legislators in attendance pledged continued support for funding. Senator Patty Kim and Representative Dave Madson both said they would press for equitable, adequate dollars for Harrisburg schools. "Our kids deserve the exact same options as kids 10 miles away," Senator Kim said.

Reporters asked officials about the criteria and readiness for the transition. Dr. Row and Dr. Gina Karasi of the Department of Education said the legal criteria to exit are the same categories used to enter receiverhip under Act 141 and Chapter 18 of Pennsylvania education law; Karasi said teams review those conditions before concluding the district no longer meets the threshold for financial recovery status. When asked whether a step‑down status was considered, officials said the department evaluated statutory steps and determined returning the district to local control was the most expedient course given observed progress.

Officials also addressed financial constraints that will persist. Department and district speakers noted that roughly 51% of property in the Harrisburg district is tax‑exempt and that more than $30 million of the district’s budget supports charter schools, factors that will continue to affect revenue. Dr. Suski and department staff emphasized board training completed during receiverhip — on governance versus management, budgeting, and deliberation — and said additional training will continue through the monitoring phase.

The Department of Education and district leaders said they will pursue grant funding, greater transparency in budgeting, and voluntary payments in lieu of taxes from tax‑exempt property owners as part of broader revenue strategies. No formal vote or legislative action took place at the press conference; the announcement was made by the department with statements from district, state and local leaders.

The next procedural steps are the district’s board resuming legal authority on June 18, the start of a five‑year monitoring phase, and the board’s first meeting without a receiver scheduled for June 24.