Last month, the Commonwealth Court ruled that every child in Pennsylvania has a constitutional right to education, regardless of income, writes Kathleen E. Carey for the Daily Times.

The ruling was a response to a lawsuit brought by several Pennsylvania school districts, including William Penn. The suit argued that state funds were not distributed fairly, denying needed resources to locally underfunded schools, creating an unequal public education system. 

Last week, Penn Wood High students and faculty reacted.

“The decision will ensure that every child, regardless of their ZIP code, their race, or their socioeconomic status, has the same shot at a quality education,” said Penn Wood High senior Trinity Giddings.

Giddings described classes without heat in the winter at Penn Wood.

Senior Paul Vandy said his classmates daily deal with overcrowded classes and out-of-date textbooks.

Meanwhile, visits to other districts reveal multiple resource rooms for teachers, math and reading specialists, student lounges, a dance room, even a cleaning robot.

Advocate Donna Cooper of Children First, wants Pa. Gov. Josh Shapiro to place $500 million in the state budget for equitable education “so that these children have reason to believe that this lawsuit mattered.”

Read more about the reaction from Penn Wood High students at the Daily Times.

PA State Rep. Gina H. Curry, representing the district where William Penn School District is located, speaks about school funding.