As Pa. school districts struggle with labor shortages and mounting costs for mandated expenses, Democratic lawmakers are proposing a $3.75 billion boost state-education funding. Maddie Hanna classified the information for The Philadelphia Inquirer.

The funds would be drawn from an expected historic state surplus, along with another pool of federal relief that the state did not spend.

State Sen. Vincent Hughes, who serves as Democratic chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, referred to the proposal as “a historic increase to meet a historic moment,” considering the challenges that are currently facing the education system.

The majority of this funding would be distributed as general aid to school districts. All 500 state districts will receive a portion of $1.1 billion in resources, distributed using the state’s funding formula. An additional $750 million would go to the 200 poorest districts. An additional $250 million would address school staffing challenges.

Meanwhile, Republican lawmakers, who hold the majority in both houses, opposed the proposal, calling it a political maneuver.

A landmark lawsuit trial that includes William Penn School District is currently underway alleging the state’s school funding formula creates disparities between wealthy and poor public school districts.

Read more about this education funding proposal in The Philadelphia Inquirer.