I am writing to express my deep concern about a recent report on the condition of rural public education in Pennsylvania. 

“Why Rural Matters 2023,” a nonpartisan report compiled by the National Rural Education Association, highlights the urgent need to address the inadequacies and inequities that our students are facing.

It is disheartening to learn that students attending rural school districts across the state continue to grapple with limited internet access and lack crucial school-based resources, such as psychologists and counselors. 

These students deserve the same opportunities and resources as their non-rural counterparts. The COVID-19 pandemic has only exacerbated these challenges, leaving many students without the necessary tools for remote learning and support for their mental health.

Rural districts are operating on an unequal playing field. The report emphasizes the need for increased investment and support in these communities. Basic internet access should be as readily available as electricity or water in every 21st-century school building and in every student’s home. Students should not have to travel long distances to access assignments or struggle with limited connectivity.

Furthermore, the shortage of school counselors and psychologists in rural districts is a critical problem that must be addressed. Every student deserves access to the mental health support necessary for their well-being and academic success. 

The Pennsylvania school funding lawsuit decision, released earlier this year, makes it clear that closing the public school adequacy gap is crucial in ensuring that all Pennsylvania communities have the resources they need to fully prepare our children for the future. 

It is essential that we prioritize policy changes and modifications to the way public schools are funded in our state, including increasing the state share of funding to our local school districts and common-sense cyber charter school funding reform that would save districts and taxpayers across the state millions of dollars. 

Reliance on local taxes to make up the gap—state lawmakers have not funded our schools as needed—leaves lower-income districts at a disadvantage, and leads to wide achievement gaps and inequitable opportunities for our students.

It is time for our leaders and policymakers to come together and take action. Our children deserve nothing less.

Susan Spicka
Executive director, Education Voters of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA