Why has Pennsylvania turned against kids and families??

Sharon Sedlar | June 17, 2026

I’m going out on a limb here—one far from where I’ve ever been, or ever wanted to be. But the fact is, Pennsylvania is not just turning its back on kids. Worse, it is turning on kids and families. 

We have never said that district education is not critical. We have always supported all forms of education. Yes, we focus on advancing education options—but those options include district schools, too. 

One system, one model, does not work for every child. Students with medical needs, those who have been harmed or bullied, and families whose values or circumstances require a different setting need another option. That reality was acknowledged when charter schools were signed into law with broad bipartisan support. They were created to provide an alternative, relieve strain on the district system, and bring innovation to students. 

Not only have cyber charter schools been under attack for years—facing massive cuts and increasing mandates over the past two years specifically—but brick-and-mortar charter schools are now under attack as well. 

And it doesn’t stop there. Students supported by the Educational Improvement Tax Credit program, the Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit program, and the Economically Disadvantaged Students program are under attack, too. 

To put it bluntly, Harrisburg legislators are trying to take away education options from children in the most urgent circumstances—those who have been exiled, ostracized, harmed, trapped in failing schools, or left behind because their families cannot afford another path. That is exactly what bills HB2602, HB2632, and HB2634 would do. These efforts threaten hundreds of thousands of children who depend on these options for their safety, education, and future. 

This is not about “us vs. them.” These are children—many of whom have already been failed by the very system now trying to crush their educational opportunities and futures. This is both/and.

Legislators can talk all day about supporting districts and increasing funding—and yes, districts should be supported 💯. But why would anyone seek to defund and destroy the very options some children desperately need after being failed by that system? Because district students make up most of Pennsylvania’s student body? What happened to looking out for those who are vulnerable, bruised, and bullied? 

This all-out assault on these children is deplorable—and we are not afraid to say so. Parents know what their children need. And if that is not the district education model, they should be able to pursue another path. They should not be restricted based on ZIP code, family status, or income. And they certainly should not be forced to attend a persistently dangerous school, a school with zero percent proficiency, or a school where they were attacked or feel unsafe. But that will be the end result of these measures. It will wipe out the work of decades and set our education system and children back to the 1980’s.

Every parent should be concerned when this kind of force is used to squeeze all of Pennsylvania’s children into one box—with no real recourse unless you can afford it. We care about all kids—ours, yours, and theirs. And it is time to come together and stop this assault on nearly half a million children before it is too late. 
 
You might ask, “Why should I be involved? I love my district school. I have no issues. This doesn’t affect me.” But it does. What if your school changes? What if your family circumstances or your child’s health, safety, or well-being changes? Do you want to have options for your child when and if you need them—or for your cousin, nephew, or grandchildren? 
 
What is happening right now will reverberate for generations—and not in a good way. Parents need to stand together. Do no harm to Pennsylvania’s children!