Change Indicator

School Finance - Revenues by source in Pennsylvania

School Finance - Revenues by source

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Why This Indicator Matters

Pennsylvania has one of the most inequitable public school systems in the country, with large disparities in school funding, educational opportunities, and student achievement.[1] The state’s funding system has been widely criticized for its regressive nature, with Pennsylvania state funds only covering about 31% of costs in School Year 2021-2022, compared to the national average of 48%.[2] This state contribution has been dropping since 1970 and has resulted in Pennsylvania having one of the worst funding gaps between wealthy and poor school districts, leaving the quality of education to differ significantly across school districts.[3] In fact, research has shown that affluent districts can spend up to 33% more per child that the poorest districts, and students of color are especially harmed by this unequal funding.[4]

The implications for these disparities are significant, as students from lower-income districts tend to perform worse on standardized tests, are more likely to be chronically absent from school, and are less likely to graduate on-time.[5] In addition to poor academic outcomes, these students are also more likely to experience long term adverse effects, such as low educational attainment, limited career opportunities, and the perpetuation of poverty.


[1] Lapp, G. & Shaw-Amoah, A. (2023). Pennsylvania School Funding and School Staffing Disparities. Research for Action. https://www.researchforaction.org/research-resources/k-12/pennsylvania-school-funding-and-school-staffing-disparities/

[2] Stone, C. & Stier, M. (2024). K-12 School Funding in PA Remains Inadequate and Inequitable. Pennsylvania Policy Center. https://pennpolicy.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/adequacy-and-equity-2024.pdf

[3] Greene, P. (2024). Pennsylvania’s Path to Petter (And More Expensive) School Funding. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/petergreene/2024/01/18/pennsylvanias-path-to-better-and-more-expensive-school-funding/

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Definition and Source

PROVIDER

Definition

Public school revenues by source (local, state, federal, other) are provided as a percent of total revenues.

Last Updated

June 2025