State Senators Jay Costa, Vincent Hughes, and Judy Schwank Praise Governor Shapiro’s Higher Education Blueprint, Call for Continued Stakeholder Conversations
HARRISBURG, PA – January 26, 2024 − Today, members of the Pennsylvania Senate Democratic caucus praise Governor Shapiro’s new blueprint for higher education, which seeks to expand access to higher education for Pennsylvania’s learners while consolidating governance...
Senators Hughes and Miller Say Basic Education Funding Commission Report is “Just a Start”
January 15, 2024 − Senators Vincent Hughes (D-Philadelphia/Montgomery) and Nick Miller (D-Lehigh/Northampton), two Senate members of the Basic Education Funding Commission, issued a statement following the release and affirmative vote on the Commission’s report that...
Sen. Lindsey Williams Releases Statement on Opening of Basic Education Funding Commission Hearings
Pittsburgh, Pa. − September 12, 2023 − Senator Lindsey M. Williams (D-Allegheny), Minority Chair of the Senate Education Committee, issued the following statement after the first hearing of the Basic Education Funding Commission (BEFC) in Allentown: “Today, the Basic...
Generations of Unconstitutional and Inadequate Education Funding Have Forced Schools Across PA to Not Open on Time
Generations of Unconstitutional and Inadequate Education Funding Have Forced Schools Across PA to Not Open on Time This week, the Philadelphia Inquirer took a look at why over 80 Philadelphia public schools had to dismiss early on their first week back to...
Fund Our Schools Equitably and Adequately
Fund Our Schools Equitably and Adequately When it comes to our schools, with a $9B surplus, a $5.1B Rainy Day Fund, a Commonwealth Court decision, and no Republican appeals, we should fund our schools NOW! If not now, when? In February, the Commonwealth Court of...
All About Education
Supporting Students and Teachers in the 7th District
Senator Hughes has been busy in the district visiting schools and introducing legislation to financially compensate future teachers.
Senator Vincent Hughes Brings Modern Career Day to Over 1K Students in Philadelphia
Philadelphia, PA – May 23, 2023 – Today, Senator Hughes brought his “See Me−Imagine You” Career Day to 13 schools across Philadelphia. The program was simultaneously held for students in each school and featured professionals from a range of careers and backgrounds,...
Building a Better Student-to-Teacher Pipeline Can Ease Staffing Crisis
By Senator Vincent Hughes and Sharif El-Mekki
A decade ago, Pennsylvania certified 20,000 new teachers. Last year, that number was down to 6,000. Chronic understaffing, along with underfunding, is driving increased burnout and shorter teaching careers.
That loss of teachers is particularly concerning among communities of color which make up 37 percent of the student body, but only 7 percent of teachers.
Hughes, Fiedler, Rally with Educators for Full School Funding
PHILADELPHIA − May 12, 2022 − With Pennsylvania sitting on more than $8 billion in excess revenue, and a dismal national ranking for school equity, state Sen. Vincent Hughes and Rep. Elizabeth Fiedler held a pre-budget school funding rally in South Philadelphia today...
PA Senate Democrats Strongly Support Governor’s Proposed Budget to Invest in Pennsylvanians
HARRISBURG – February 8, 2022 – Governor Tom Wolf gave his final budget address today to a joint Pennsylvania House and Senate Session. The proposed budget invests in Pennsylvanians through education, workforce development, criminal justice reform, public health...
General Assembly Democrats, Local Leaders Across PA Call for Immediate Action on Toxic and Unsafe School Infrastructure
Statewide, PA − June 11, 2021 — As the projected state budget surplus surged to $3 billion and more than $7 billion in federal aid remains idled by inaction, Senate & House Democrats gathered in front of local schools across Pennsylvania on Friday to call...
Sens. Costa, Hughes Respond to Gov. Wolf’s 2021-22 Budget Proposal
HARRISBURG — February 3, 2021 — Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) and Democratic Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee Vincent Hughes (D-Philadelphia/Montgomery) jointly responded to Gov. Tom Wolf’s 2021-22 Budget Address with a...
Learning Pod and Parent Resource Center to open soon #InTheDistrict
Learning Pod and Parent Resource Center to open soon #InTheDistrict Philadelphia Community stakeholders aim to help K-5 students, parents with hub Our friends with the Philadelphia Community Stakeholders (PCS) have a new and exciting opportunity for students and...
Sen. Hughes touts Act 76, which brings innovation to Pa. schools by changing “vocational-technical schools” to “career and technical schools”
HARRISBURG – October 31, 2019 – State Senator Vincent Hughes (D-Philadelphia/Montgomery) praised Act 76 of 2019, which expands access to career and technical education and workforce development opportunities and takes the important step of changing...
The fight for a 21st century education for every student takes a walk!
On Monday August 19, Senator Hughes and the Rev. Gregory Holston, executive director of POWER Interfaith, marched from historic Overbook High School in Philadelphia to the modern marvel that is Lower Merion High School in Ardmore. The purpose of their 3.5-mile journey was to shed light on the worlds of differences between two public high schools separated by a mere 8,000 or so steps.
Senator Hughes declares “Higher Education Affordability Week” at Pa. Capitol
Harrisburg – March 25, 2019 – Renewing his commitment to addressing growing student debt and soaring college tuition costs, Senator Vincent Hughes (D-Philadelphia/Montgomery) will introduce a resolution declaring March 25-29 “Higher Education Affordability Week.” Sen....
Senator Hughes calls on legislators to address the state’s public school infrastructure after release of final PlanCON report
HARRISBURG – May 23, 2018 – After the release of the Pennsylvania Public School Building Construction and Reconstruction Advisory Committee (Plan CON) report Wednesday morning, Democratic Appropriations Committee Chairman Vincent J. Hughes (D-Philadelphia/Montgomery)...
Hughes Statement on Court Hearing: Lawsuit Will Spur Action on School Funding
Harrisburg – March 7, 2018 — Senate Democratic Appropriations Chair Vincent J. Hughes (D-Philadelphia/Montgomery) issued the following statement concerning today’s Commonwealth Court hearing on fair funding for Pennsylvania’s public schools. “We are not doing enough...