The federal government surpassed its record of 35 days for the longest government shutdown Nov 5., but Pennsylvania’s government hadn’t fared much better, as the commonwealth’s budget was over 130 days late. This caused some schools to wonder whether they could remain operational in January.

Before these school districts’ concerns were raised, Governor Josh Shapiro advocated in March for a budget that sent an “additional $494 million to schools deemed chronically underfunded and another $32 million to districts with high property tax burdens.” However, a budget impasse was foreshadowed when Republican legislators disputed the fairness of Shapiro’s proposed budget that clarified only a portion of school districts would receive money, as determined by financial need. Similarly, Republicans pushed back on the suggested conditions for what was considered an “acceptable level” of service from school districts despite the fact rural districts would also receive additional funding.

Tensions over educational spending came at time when the Commonwealth Court ruled in 2023 that Pennsylvania’s system of funding kindergarten through 12th grade violated the Commonwealth’s constitution. The presiding judge wrote, “‘Students attending low-wealth districts are being deprived of equal protection of law,’” with compliance requiring equitable education funding. In response, 2024-2025 school year education spending increased by $1.1 billion, but, now, Republican legislators have since been vocal about limiting spending. Surprisingly, however, the long-awaited budget fully funds the adequacy and equity payments needed to fulfill Pennsylvania’s constitutional obligation.

Nevertheless, while it is OK to breathe a sigh of relief, people should survey the damage; a number of Pennsylvania public schools have incurred costly loans to remain open — not to mention the harm to many others created by the federal shutdown. Thus, the current moment should be one of reflection for voters to remember. Though politicians can be unpredictable, we can vote them out, call them and organize peacefully to show them that an over 30-day federal shutdown and a 130-day late budget are unacceptable. Only together, through compromise and compassion, can we stop our state and federal governments from struggling like this. We have a republic only if “[we] can keep it.”