On Tuesday, over 50 religious leaders addressed an open letter to Governor Josh Shapiro, urging him to lend his support for school choice and educational freedom.
The nonprofit organization, Black Pastors United for Education, has called upon Shapiro to prioritize education as a non-partisan issue. They have urged him to take bold steps in dismissing the political barriers that hinder progress and to provide comprehensive funding and secure educational freedom and opportunities.
Jay-Z recently declared his endorsement for school vouchers in Pennsylvania, just as House Democrats passed a bill that could potentially harm charter schools by altering the student funding formula. In light of these developments, an open letter has been released.
During his first year as governor, Shapiro’s endorsement of school choice caused a budget delay that lasted for several months. However, he later withdrew his support, which led to accusations from Republicans that he had broken his promise.
Black Pastors United for Education is advocating for Pennsylvania to take the lead in providing educational opportunities in the country. The group emphasized the need for intentional, collaborative, strategic, and compassionate efforts to ensure the welfare of the children and the state as a whole.
The group urged Shapiro to allocate adequate funding for public schools and to establish Lifeline Scholarships for students attending the state’s lowest-performing schools, enabling them to enroll in alternative institutions. Additionally, they requested that he reject any budget cuts to online charter schools, which serve a higher proportion of low-income and non-white students than conventional schools.
According to BPUE, each child in Pennsylvania should have access to a quality education that caters to their specific needs and interests. The organization strongly advocates for empowering parents and guardians, as well as community and religious leaders, to speak up and urge lawmakers to prioritize this cause. BPUE firmly believes that every child, regardless of their zip code, background, or circumstance, should have equal opportunities when it comes to education.
According to Rev. Joshua Robertson, the founder of BPUE and the senior pastor at The Rock Church in Harrisburg, there is a bipartisan agreement on adequately funding public schools. However, reaching an agreement on preserving cyber charter school funding and implementing Lifeline Scholarships is proving to be more challenging.
He stated that in all his conversations where he explains what Lifeline Scholarships are or discusses alternatives, he has not encountered any opposition from parents. He firmly believes that if providing more educational options affects public schools in a negative way, it calls for a larger discussion about the system being broken.
As an illustration of the challenges faced by students attending public school, he cited his own experience. Despite being a successful football player, he graduated with a second-grade reading level. It wasn’t until a bishop in North Carolina took him under his wing and provided mentorship that he was able to get on track academically and earn both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees.
Robertson reflected on how his life was transformed by someone who went out of their way to ensure he had a chance. He acknowledged that it would have been simpler to believe that success comes with more money. However, he pointed out that Pennsylvania and other regions have a 30-year record to show that more funding does not always result in better education.
According to him, there is a growing demand from both students and parents for increased opportunities and options.
Robertson urged lawmakers to prioritize the needs of children and set politics aside. He expressed his faith and hope in Governor Shapiro, whom he and others are praying for. Robertson called on the Governor to take the lead in fully funding education options and choices in Pennsylvania. He emphasized the importance of not allowing politics to hinder progress and urged the Governor to ensure that people’s needs are met.