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...
Hughes: Jobs, Workforce Development, Education Investments Highlight Budget Proposal
Harrisburg – February 6, 2018 – Senate Democratic Appropriations Chair Vincent J. Hughes (D-Philadelphia/Montgomery) issued the following statement regarding the governor’s $32.9 billion General Fund budget proposal for 2018-2019. The proposed budget represents a 3.1...Sen. Hughes: Philly School’s Boiler Explosion Represents Why We’re Fighting for $350M in Ed Funding, Why We Can’t Comprise
Harrisburg, Jan. 21, 2016 – A boiler explosion in a Philadelphia elementary school coupled with previously unheard of examples of a crumbling infrastructure in the district have Sen. Vincent Hughes, the Democratic chairman of the Pennsylvania Senate Appropriations...Senator Hughes Slams Republicans for Trying to Hold Education Funding Hostage to Force Unpopular Liquor Privatization Proposal
HARRISBURG – (July 28, 2015) – Senator Vincent Hughes released the following statement in response to Pennsylvania House Speaker Mike Turzai’s recent comments on state budget negotiations: “I am disappointed by recent comments made by Rep. Mike Turzai, who...Senator Hughes Blasts Republican State Budget Priorities, Says “It Would Move Pennsylvania in the Wrong Direction.”
HARRISBURG, June 30th, 2015 − Senator Vincent Hughes released the following statement on the Republican legislative priorities, including state budget, liquor privatization, and pension overhaul: “I am deeply disappointed with the actions of my Republican colleagues...State Lawmakers Highlight Growing Bipartisan Support for Tax on Marcellus Shale to Fund Education
Harrisburg, April 9, 2014 – Today a bipartisan group of lawmakers from the Senate and House voiced their support for imposing a severance tax on natural gas drilling in Pennsylvania. While there was no clear consensus among the legislators on the exact terms of the...State Senator Vincent Hughes Announces Legislation to Tax Natural Gas Drilling, Fund Public Education and Other Critical Programs
Philadelphia – March 27th, 2014 – At a news conference today, Senator Hughes announced his support for new legislation that would impose a severance tax on natural gas drilling in the Marcellus Shale region of Pennsylvania at a 5 percent rate. The new levy, which will...Senate Democrats Deride Gov’s Budget as Election-Year Pandering
Harrisburg, February 4, 2014 – Senate Democratic leaders today called Gov. Tom Corbett’s 2014-15 budget proposal election-year pandering and woefully lacking on multiple levels. “The governor really needs to stop promising and start delivering for Pennsylvania.”...Senate Democrats Detail Budget Priorities, Highlight Corbett Budget Failures
Philadelphia, Jan. 30, 2014 – Senate Democrats gathered in communities across Pennsylvania yesterday to challenge Gov. Tom Corbett to produce a spending plan that is aligned with the needs of the Pennsylvania.