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If you’re angry about this budget, you’re not alone.

Many cyber families are looking at the proposals coming out of Harrisburg and wondering how lawmakers can say they support public education while reducing support for the public schools their children attend.

But here’s the truth.

Being mad for a week doesn’t change anything.

Posting one angry comment doesn’t change anything.

Sharing one meme doesn’t change anything.

The people pushing these policies aren’t thinking about today.

They’re thinking about the next vote.
The next budget.
The next election.
The next headline.

Parents need to think the same way.

If this budget has shown us anything, it’s that school choice needs more than supporters.

It needs participants.

That means learning the issues.

Knowing your lawmakers.

Making phone calls.

Sending emails.

Showing up at meetings.

Telling your family’s story.

And yes...

Voting in November.

Because elections have consequences.

Budgets have consequences.

And those consequences land on our children.

Here’s another reality.

The groups pushing these changes are organized.

They have funding.

They have staff.

They have lobbyists.

They have campaigns.

Parents have something even more powerful.

Numbers.

But only if we use them.

One parent cannot compete with a million-dollar advocacy campaign.

Five parents can’t either.

Hundreds can.

Thousands absolutely can.

That is why Candy Apple Advocacy exists.

Not to tell you what to think.

To help you understand what’s happening.

To give you the tools to engage.

To connect parents across Pennsylvania.

To remind families that they are not alone.

Most importantly, to help change our mindset.

School choice isn’t something we defend only when it’s under attack.

It’s something we build, strengthen, and advocate for every single day.

So if you’re still angry about this budget...

Good.

Don’t waste that energy.

Channel it.

Subscribe.

Stay informed.

Stay engaged.

Bring another parent with you.

Because this isn’t about winning one budget battle.

It’s about making sure Pennsylvania families still have educational choices years from now.

The work starts today.

And it continues until November—and beyond.

Subscribe now

I didn’t sit down to write this blog.

It found me.

I was headed west, making the familiar drive home after another long day in Cleveland with Tabby.

If you’ve ever made a drive like that, you know the feeling.

The miles are quiet.

Your mind isn’t.

You replay conversations with doctors. You wonder if she’s comfortable. You think about the next appointments, the next visit, the bills waiting at home, the kids, and everything else life has piled onto your shoulders.

Then the radio played Running on Empty by Jackson Browne.

I’ve heard it plenty of times over the years.

But this time, one simple phrase landed differently.

“Running on empty.”

I don’t know if I’ve ever related to three words more.

The last two years have changed our family forever.

Bella’s medical journey.

Tabby’s strokes.

Hundreds of trips to hospitals and rehabilitation facilities.

Learning medical terms I never wanted to know.

Learning what it truly means to be a caregiver.

Trying to be the best husband I can.

Trying to be the dad my kids deserve.

Trying to lead organizations that matter to people.

Trying to help other families find hope.

Some days...

I’m just tired.

And I know I’m not alone.

Every day I hear from parents who are carrying burdens no one else sees.

Parents wondering how they’ll make it through another day.

Parents wondering if anyone in Harrisburg understands what their family is living through.

Parents trying to protect children who simply need a chance to succeed.

Then summer arrives.

The baseball fields fill up.

Families head to the lake.

Vacation photos fill social media.

Life slows down for many people.

But not for every family.

Not for the parent sitting beside a hospital bed.

Not for the family waiting on test results.

Not for the caregiver learning another medical routine.

And not for the parents spending another summer wondering whether politicians will once again treat their children’s education like a bargaining chip.

That’s the reality for so many families in Pennsylvania this year.

We’re being asked to fight like hell for the funding that allows our children to attend the public school that finally worked for them.

We’re making phone calls.

Writing emails.

Sharing our stories.

Explaining—again—that public cyber charter students are public school students.

Trying to remind people that behind every budget line is a child with a name, a face, and a future.

Some days it feels like nobody is listening.

Then I stop myself.

Because I remember something.

Children don’t have a microphone in the Capitol.

They don’t hire lobbyists.

They don’t make campaign donations.

They don’t stand at committee hearings.

They have us.

Parents.

Grandparents.

Teachers.

Neighbors.

People willing to stand up when it’s uncomfortable.

If you think someone else will fight for your child...

Maybe they will.

Maybe they won’t.

But no one will ever fight with the same determination as the person who kisses them goodnight.

No one remembers the bullying the way you do.

No one remembers the anxiety.

No one remembers the sleepless nights.

No one remembers the moment your child finally smiled because they found a school where they belonged.

You do.

That’s why your voice matters.

You don’t need to know every funding formula.

You don’t need to memorize every bill number.

You don’t need to be a professional advocate.

You just need to care enough to speak.

Tell your story.

Write the email.

Make the call.

Share the post.

Show up.

Because stories change hearts.

Hearts influence votes.

Votes shape laws.

And laws shape children’s lives.

That’s what Candy Apple Advocacy has always been about.

Not Democrats.

Not Republicans.

Not red.

Not blue.

Kids.

Parents.

Opportunity.

Hope.

As I watched the sun begin to disappear behind the hills on that drive home to western Pennsylvania, I realized something.

Maybe being an advocate isn’t about always feeling strong.

Maybe courage is showing up when you’re exhausted.

Maybe leadership is taking one more step when you don’t think you have another one left.

Maybe changing the world looks a lot more ordinary than we imagine.

One parent.

One story.

One phone call.

One child.

If you’re reading this today and you’re tired...

I understand.

If you’re overwhelmed...

I understand.

If you feel like no one hears you...

I understand.

Rest when you need to.

Laugh with your family.

Take your kids for ice cream.

Watch a sunset.

Recharge.

But don’t convince yourself that your voice doesn’t matter.

Because somewhere in Pennsylvania, another parent is just beginning a journey you already know.

And somewhere in Harrisburg, another vote is coming.

Your child doesn’t need a perfect advocate.

They already have the best one.

You.

Maybe we’re all running on empty sometimes.

But we’re not done.

Not while there’s another child worth fighting for.

I don’t remember much of what was said that day.

I was in fourth grade.

Our class met with our local state representative, Scott Hutchinson. Like most kids, I was probably more interested in getting out of class than understanding the details of state government.

But something stuck.

Maybe it was the fact that an elected official took time to meet with us. Maybe it was the idea that regular people could help shape what happened in Harrisburg.

Or maybe it was the book.

He gave us a book about the Pennsylvania Capitol.

For whatever reason, that book stayed with me.

Years passed.

I even remember running into Scott at the local mall a few years later and saying hello. At the time, it seemed like a small thing. Just a familiar face from a school visit.

Then life happened.

School.
Work.
Marriage.
Kids.
Bills.
Responsibilities.

Scott Hutchinson became Senator Scott Hutchinson.

And government became something that happened somewhere else.

Or at least that’s what I thought.

Then one day, I had to fight.

Not for myself.

For my children.

Like many parents, I found myself learning more about education policy than I ever expected. I started paying attention to legislation. Funding formulas. School choice. The decisions being made by people whose names most voters only recognize on Election Day.

So I did what any parent should do.

I looked up my elected officials.

And to my surprise, there was a familiar name.

Scott Hutchinson.

The same person who had stood in front of my fourth-grade class years earlier.

The same person whose book about the Capitol had sat in my memory for decades.

So I sent an email.

Then I made a phone call.

Eventually, my family met with him at his local district office.

A few months later, in January, I found myself sitting across from him again.

Only this time it wasn’t in a classroom.

It was in the Pennsylvania Capitol.

And that moment hit me harder than I expected.

Because suddenly I wasn’t the fourth grader holding a government book.

I was a father carrying a story.

A parent advocating for his children.

A citizen participating in the process I had spent years assuming belonged to somebody else.

I’ve met with other lawmakers since then.

I’ve walked through offices.

Sat in conference rooms.

Stood in hallways.

Talked with representatives, senators, staff members, and advocates.

And if I’m being honest, there are still moments when I feel small.

The Capitol is an enormous building.

The offices are impressive.

The history is overwhelming.

You can feel it when you walk through the halls.

You realize you’re standing where generations of Pennsylvanians have debated, argued, compromised, and governed.

Sometimes it’s easy to feel like you don’t belong there.

Like you’re just a regular parent.

Just a regular citizen.

Just one voice.

But then I remember something.

Those buildings belong to us.

Not the politicians.

Not the lobbyists.

Not the organizations.

Us.

The taxpayers.

The voters.

The parents.

And while I may feel small compared to the building, I know I belong there.

Not because I have a title.

Not because I have influence.

Not because I know all the answers.

I belong there because I have a story.

Because my children matter.

Because your children matter.

And because government works best when ordinary people refuse to leave the conversation to everyone else.

Funny how life works.

A fourth-grade classroom.
A book about the Capitol.
A chance encounter at the mall.

Then decades later, a father sitting in the same Capitol building, fighting for the next generation.

Sometimes the longest journeys bring us right back to where we started.

Only this time, we understand why we were there in the first place.

The Chester County DA Cleared Both Schools. So Why Are Public Cyber Charter Students Still Being Blamed?

I take absolutely no joy in writing this.

A 12-year-old Pennsylvania girl lost her life after enduring unimaginable abuse. A child is gone. A family is forever changed. Nothing about this story should be political.

But when elected officials, activists, and commentators begin using a child’s death to attack public cyber charter schools, the facts matter.

And right now, some of the most important facts are being left out.

The purpose of this article is not to defend every agency involved.

The purpose is not to excuse failures.

The purpose is not to relitigate a criminal case.

The purpose is to follow the timeline and examine what the public record actually says.

Because when you do, one conclusion becomes difficult to avoid:

The claim that a public cyber charter school failed Malinda Hoagland is not supported by the findings released by the Chester County District Attorney’s Office.

In fact, investigators specifically addressed the role of both schools.

The Chester County District Attorney stated:

“After being pulled from school at the end of 2023, Malinda attended a cyber school. There is no indication that either school failed to meet legal requirements to report abuse—in fact, there is evidence that teachers at both schools often checked in with Malinda.”

Read that carefully.

Investigators established that Malinda attended a cyber school after leaving her previous school.

Then investigators addressed the actions of both schools.

Not one school.

Not the traditional public school.

Not the public cyber charter school.

Both schools.

And after reviewing the evidence, investigators concluded there was no indication that either school failed to meet legal reporting requirements.

For anyone attempting to use this tragedy as evidence that public cyber charter schools somehow ignored abuse, that statement creates a major problem.

The lead law enforcement agency investigating the case explicitly declined to make that claim.

Instead, investigators found evidence that teachers from both schools often checked in with Malinda.

That should matter.

Because cyber students are public school students.

Cyber teachers are Pennsylvania-certified educators.

Cyber schools operate under the same mandatory reporting laws as every other public school in the Commonwealth.

And according to the District Attorney, both schools met those obligations.

So let’s walk through the timeline.

Not the political timeline.

Not the social media timeline.

The actual timeline.

2023: Concerns Existed Before Cyber School

According to the Chester County District Attorney:

“School records establish that Malinda had approximately 25 unexcused absences in 2023, and an additional 10 excused absences.”

Before cyber enrollment:

• Attendance concerns already existed.

• Educational concerns already existed.

• Child welfare concerns already existed.

These facts matter because they establish that concerns surrounding Malinda did not suddenly begin after she entered a public cyber charter school.

The documented concerns predate cyber enrollment.

November 2023: Removal From In-Person School

Investigators reported:

“Malinda was removed from in-person schooling in November of 2023.”

CBS Philadelphia similarly reported:

“Arrest papers for Rendell Hoagland and Cindy Warren indicate Malinda was pulled out of North Brandywine Middle School in November 2023.”

At this point, the public cyber charter school was not yet part of the story.

Late 2023: Reports Were Already Being Made

According to a lawsuit filed on behalf of Malinda’s half-sisters, concerns had already been reported.

CBS Philadelphia reported:

“The school district reported its own concerns to the county in late 2023.”

Whether those allegations are ultimately proven in court will be determined through the legal process.

But the allegation itself is important.

The lawsuit does not claim educators failed to report concerns.

It claims concerns were reported and the response afterward was inadequate.

That is a very different argument.

January 3, 2024: Withdrawal From Coatesville

CBS Philadelphia reported:

“She was eventually withdrawn from the Coatesville School District on January 3, 2024.”

Only after this point does the public cyber charter school timeline begin.

An Important Piece of Context

Since publishing this article, I have been informed of another important detail that deserves to be included.

According to information provided to me, when Malinda enrolled in the public cyber charter school, the school was not notified by the previous district that there were ongoing safety concerns regarding Malinda. Likewise, the cyber school was not informed by Children and Youth Services of any active concerns.

If accurate, that fact is critically important.

Much of the public discussion surrounding this tragedy assumes that the cyber school entered the situation with knowledge of prior concerns. However, if the cyber school was never informed by either the previous district or child welfare authorities, then educators were working with the information available to them at the time.

That context makes the Chester County District Attorney’s statement even more significant:

“After being pulled from school at the end of 2023, Malinda attended a cyber school. There is no indication that either school failed to meet legal requirements to report abuse—in fact, there is evidence that teachers at both schools often checked in with Malinda.”

The District Attorney’s Office reviewed the evidence and concluded there was no indication that either school failed its legal reporting obligations.

If the cyber school was not made aware of prior safety concerns and investigators still found evidence that teachers regularly checked in with Malinda, that raises an entirely different question than the one being discussed publicly.

The question is no longer whether educators ignored concerns.

The question becomes whether critical information was effectively shared between the systems responsible for protecting children.

That distinction matters.

And it deserves serious discussion if the goal is preventing future tragedies.

2024: Enrollment In A Public Cyber Charter School

The District Attorney states:

“After being pulled from school at the end of 2023, Malinda attended a cyber school.”

That sentence is important because investigators deliberately included it in the same paragraph where they addressed reporting requirements.

The DA’s office knew she attended a cyber school.

The DA’s office reviewed the evidence.

The DA’s office then concluded there was no indication either school failed to meet legal reporting requirements.

What Investigators Say Happened During Cyber School

NBC Philadelphia reported:

“According to investigators, Malinda’s father and stepmother used makeup to cover up her beatings and shackled her legs to the floor during her virtual classes.”

That allegation tells us something significant.

According to investigators, the adults responsible for abusing Malinda were actively attempting to conceal evidence of abuse.

The allegation is not that educators ignored obvious signs.

The allegation is that her abusers were actively working to hide those signs from people who might see her.

The Timeline Clears The Schools

Let’s review what the public record shows.

Before cyber enrollment:

✓ Attendance concerns existed.

✓ Welfare concerns existed.

✓ Reports had allegedly already been made.

After cyber enrollment:

✓ Teachers reportedly continued checking in.

✓ Investigators found no indication the cyber school failed reporting requirements.

✓ Investigators found no indication the traditional school failed reporting requirements.

The Chester County District Attorney’s statement is remarkably clear.

There is no indication either school failed to meet legal requirements to report abuse.

The Data Shows Reporting Is Happening

Pennsylvania’s Child Protective Services Annual Report provides additional context.

School employees generated 11,114 child abuse reports statewide.

That is the highest number of reports from any category of mandated reporter.

Yet only 4.8% of those reports were ultimately substantiated.

Some critics point to that number as evidence schools are getting it wrong.

I see something different.

Teachers are not investigators.

Their job is not to prove abuse.

Their job is not to secure convictions.

Their job is to report reasonable suspicion.

The data shows educators are reporting.

The question is what happens after those reports enter the system.

The Real Question

If educators reported concerns...

If teachers checked in...

If the District Attorney found no indication either school failed its legal duties...

Then what happened next?

That is the question Pennsylvania should be asking.

Because reporting is only the first step.

A report only protects a child if someone follows through.

Final Thoughts

Malinda Hoagland deserved better.

Every child deserves better.

But we do not honor her memory by rewriting the facts.

The timeline matters.

The District Attorney’s findings matter.

The truth matters.

And the truth is that the lead law enforcement agency investigating this case concluded there was no indication that either the traditional public school or the public cyber charter school failed to meet legal reporting requirements.

That should be the starting point for this conversation, not the ending point.

Sources

Chester County District Attorney News Release:
https://www.chesco.org/DocumentCenter/View/77409/2024_0725-News-Release-Upgrade-in-Charges-for-Two-Accused-of-First-Degree-Murder-of-a-12-Year-Old

NBC Philadelphia:
https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/couple-charged-with-killing-girl-after-torturing-abusing-her-for-years-da-says/3923727/

CBS Philadelphia:
https://www.cbsnews.com/philadelphia/news/malinda-hoagland-chester-county-pennsylvania-abuse/

CBS Philadelphia (withdrawal timeline):
https://www.cbsnews.com/philadelphia/news/cindy-warren-arrest-child-abuse-malinda-hoagland-chester-county-children-youth-and-families/

Pennsylvania Child Protective Services Annual Report:
https://www.pa.gov/content/dam/copapwp-pagov/en/dhs/documents/docs/ocyf/documents/2024-annual-child-abuse-report-final.pdf

Jim Malliard is the Chief Strategist for Education Legislation and Parent Advocacy at Candy Apple Advocacy, a parent-led organization focused on education policy, transparency, and student-centered solutions in Pennsylvania.

Every year around budget season, I watch the same thing happen.

Parents get frustrated.
Families get worried.
Social media fills with comments about what lawmakers should do.

Then the budget passes.

And everyone asks what happened.

The truth is often uncomfortable.

Many parents never contacted the people making the decisions.

They never called.
Never emailed.
Never asked for a meeting.
Never told their story.

Meanwhile, lobbyists did.

Organizations did.

Special interests did.

Every single day.

That is why relationships matter.

If school choice matters to your family, your first call should not be made after a vote. It should happen before lawmakers ever walk into the room.

Call your Pennsylvania State Senator.

Not to yell.
Not to demand.

To introduce yourself.

Tell them who you are.
Tell them where you live.
Tell them about your child.

Ask for a meeting.
Ask for a Zoom call.
Ask for ten minutes of their time.

Make yourself a real person instead of a number on a spreadsheet.

Then follow up.

Send an email thanking them for listening.

Share your family’s story.

Maybe your child was bullied.
Maybe your child struggled with anxiety.
Maybe a public cyber charter school gave your family flexibility during a medical crisis.
Maybe a scholarship program opened doors that otherwise would have stayed closed.

Whatever your story is, tell it.

Lawmakers hear statistics all day.

They remember stories.

Then take one more step.

Tell your friends and family what you did.

Write a social media post.

Explain that you contacted your Senator.
Explain why.
Ask others to do the same.

Not because you want attention.

Because you need momentum.

This is where movements are built.

One parent calls.

Then another.

Then another.

Soon an office starts noticing.

Soon staff members start talking.

Soon lawmakers realize that families are paying attention.

That is how influence works.

Not through one viral post.

Not through one angry comment.

Through consistent engagement.

Day after day.

Week after week.

Until the budget is signed.

School choice supporters often make one critical mistake.

They assume someone else is handling it.

Someone else is making the calls.
Someone else is writing the emails.
Someone else is fighting the fight.

There is no someone else.

There is only us.

Parents.

Families.

Grandparents.

Students.

Citizens.

People who believe every child deserves an educational setting that works for them.

If school choice matters to your family, don’t wait for someone else to defend it.

Pick up the phone.

Send the email.

Tell your story.

Then ask one more parent to do the same.

Because one call is a complaint.

One thousand calls is a movement.

🚨 SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE 🚨

06/09/2026 — 12:00 PM — Harrisburg

This is where parents stop being spectators.

If lawmakers are going to debate education, funding, public cyber charter schools, public schools, taxes, staffing, and our children’s future… then parents need to make sure our voices are impossible to ignore.

CALL.
EMAIL.
COMMENT.
TAG THEM.

Be respectful.
Be direct.
Be loud.

Tell them:
Parents are watching.
Parents are engaged.
Parents expect transparency and accountability for ALL public school students.

📞 Senate Education Committee Members:

Senator Lynda Schlegel Culver Facebook
(717) 787-8928

Senator Lindsey Williams Facebook
(717) 787-6538

Senator Doug Mastriano Facebook
(717) 787-4651

Senator Kim Ward Facebook
(717) 787-6063

Senator David Argall Facebook
(717) 787-2637

Senator Jarrett Coleman Facebook
(717) 787-1349

Senator Dawn Keefer Facebook
(717) 787-8524

Senator Greg Rothman Facebook
(717) 787-1377

Senator Carolyn Comitta Facebook
(717) 787-5709

Senator Tim Kearney Facebook
(717) 787-1350

Senator Anthony H. Williams Facebook
(717) 787-5970

The buffalo is moving.
Not one parent.
Not one family.
Thousands.

🔥 SHARE THIS.
🔥 TAG PARENTS.
🔥 FILL THE COMMENTS.
🔥 LET HARRISBURG HEAR US.

A few weeks ago, I sat on the sidelines during the Pennsylvania primaries because I am an independent voter.

No vote.
No say.
No participation.

Just shut out.

And honestly? The more I thought about it, the more ridiculous the entire system started to feel.

Here is where I have landed.

We need to eliminate the parties.

Not opinions.
Not beliefs.
Not debate.

Parties.

You should walk into a voting booth and vote for the person you believe is best. Period.

Democrat.
Republican.
Independent.
Whatever.

Do your homework.
Research candidates.
Pay attention.
Think critically.

The ballot should not need to hold your hand and tell you what team somebody belongs to like politics is some kind of youth football league.

Matter of fact, maybe forcing people to actually learn something before they vote would not be the worst thing in the world.

And primaries should be fully open across the board.

One vote for governor.
One vote for lieutenant governor.
One vote for every office.
Simple.

The same way we vote in the fall.

Clean.
Direct.
Easy.

No games.
No gatekeeping.
No “you picked the wrong party registration six years ago so now sit quietly while everybody else decides.”

And school board races?

Absolutely no party affiliation.

None.

School boards should not feel like mini Congress battles fought at elementary schools while parents are just trying to figure out math scores, transportation problems, and whether their kid feels safe walking into class.

The deeper issue here is division.

I am exhausted hearing:
“The election was rigged.”
“The election was stolen.”
“The machines.”
“The conspiracy.”
“The deep state.”
“The fix was in.”

Cut the bullshit.

Seriously.

Cut the bullshit.

Because somehow every election is supposedly rigged, yet the people screaming the loudest still somehow keep winning offices.

So let me get this straight:
the system was rigged against you…
but you won anyway?

Then what are we even talking about anymore?

At some point, this constant outrage cycle stops being about protecting democracy and starts becoming a business model built on anger, clicks, donations, and keeping Americans divided against each other.

Meanwhile, regular people are trying to survive.

Parents are trying to educate kids.
Families are trying to pay bills.
Communities are trying to stay afloat.
Schools are trying to survive budget fights.
Teachers are burning out.
Programs are disappearing.

Those are real problems.

But instead, we keep getting dragged into endless political theater where everybody is screaming and nobody is solving anything.

I am an independent because I am tired of being told I have to pick a tribe before I am allowed to think.

Pennsylvania can do better than this.

America can do better than this.

And maybe it starts with something simple:
open the primaries, remove the labels, and make people vote based on knowledge instead of party branding.

Pennsylvania parents are running out of time to sit quietly while Harrisburg decides what stays, what gets cut, and whose kids are expected to do more with less.

Every budget season in Pennsylvania starts to sound the same.

“There is no money.”
“Everyone has to sacrifice.”
“Tough decisions have to be made.”

But somehow those “tough decisions” almost always land on families, classrooms, programs, opportunities, and the people working directly with our kids.

And here is the dangerous part:
most parents do not realize how much trouble is coming until the cuts are already announced.

By then, the program is gone.
The teacher is laid off.
The support disappears.
The opportunity vanishes.

Then everybody asks:
“How did this happen?”

It happens because too many people stay silent while decisions are being made.

That image says it plainly.

NO ACTION =
Funding cuts.
Programming loss.
Teachers unemployed.

That is not fearmongering.
That is the cycle.

But the bottom half matters just as much.

ACTION =
Calling.
Sharing.
Emailing.
Engaging everyone.

No one parent is going to fix this alone.

But hundreds of parents taking small actions together?
That changes pressure.
That changes attention.
That changes political calculations.

That is why WE THE PARENTS PA matters.

Not because it is some giant polished event.

Because it is a starting point.

A place for families to hear stories, support each other, speak up, and remind lawmakers that parents are watching this budget season.

Some parents will go live.
Some will tell their stories.
Some will simply watch and share.

Every role matters.

The people making decisions in Harrisburg count on families being too busy, too tired, or too disconnected to organize.

Let’s prove them wrong.

WE THE PARENTS PA

📅 May 25
🕓 4 PM – 8 PM

➡️ Watch the livestream
➡️ Share the event with another parent
➡️ Join the conversation live or claim a 10-minute slot here:
WE THE PARENTS PA Scheduling Link

And one more thing.

Subscribe.
Because this conversation is not ending after one livestream.

The budget season is just getting started.

Share this post.
Tag another parent.
Bring someone with you.

Pennsylvania families are stronger when we stop acting alone!

There are moments when movements are built in giant arenas with million-dollar stages and consultants telling people what to say.

This will not be one of those moments.

WE THE PARENTS PA is going to be something different.

On Monday, May 18 and Monday, May 25 from 4 PM to 8 PM, we are opening up a livestream across Pennsylvania focused primarily on public cyber charter school families and the future of education in this Commonwealth.

Not polished speeches.

Not scripted answers.

Not political theater.

Just real conversations.

Parents. Teachers. Administrators. Community voices. Maybe even a few lawmakers. Ten-minute windows where people can simply speak honestly about what education looks like in their lives right now.

Why they stayed.

Why they left.

What worked.

What failed.

What they are fighting for.

And let me be clear about something else.

There is no money behind this.

No production company.
No giant marketing budget.
No paid advertising campaign.
No team of consultants.

This is grassroots.

Which means the fuel for this event is simple:
shares, comments, reactions, and people willing to show up online.

That matters because four hours is a long time.

We need people willing to watch.
We need people willing to share the livestream.
We need people commenting.
We need people tagging friends.
We need people helping the algorithm understand that parent voices matter in Pennsylvania.

Sometimes movements are not built by the person holding the microphone.

Sometimes they are built by the people sitting at the kitchen table hitting “share.”

If you are nervous about going live, that is okay.

If you do not think your story is important enough, you are probably exactly the kind of person who should be involved.

And if all you can do is tune in during dinner, react to posts, invite a friend, or help keep the energy alive during those four hours — that matters too.

This is not about perfection.

This is about presence.

WE THE PARENTS PA will be livestreamed on:

• LinkedIn

• Facebook

• YouTube

If you would like to join me live, tell your story, or share your perspective, you can schedule a 10-minute time slot here:

WE THE PARENTS PA Scheduling Link

For too long, conversations about education have happened around families instead of with them.

WE THE PARENTS PA is our attempt to change that.

Two Monday nights.

Four hours each night.

Ten-minute conversations.

One Commonwealth.

And maybe, just maybe, a reminder that parents are still the largest voting bloc in Pennsylvania.

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May 19 is coming fast.

And if parents want to be taken seriously in Pennsylvania politics, this is the moment to prove it.

Not someday.

Not “when things calm down.”

Now.

We say parents matter.

We say kids come first.

We say lawmakers need to listen.

Good.

Then let’s act like it.

Here are 13 simple things parents can do starting now to get louder, more visible, and more impossible to ignore before Primary Day.

1. Find Your Lawmakers

Know who represents you in Harrisburg.

House. Senate. School board. Local officials.

If you don’t know their names, they already have the advantage.

2. Send One Email

Not a perfect email.

Not a policy paper.

Just a real message from a real parent.

3. Share Your Story Publicly

One Facebook post.

One photo.

One reason your child matters.

Stories move people more than spreadsheets.

4. Register Someone to Vote

Your spouse.

Your neighbor.

Your grown kid.

Your friend who “doesn’t follow politics.”

Bring them into the conversation.

5. Comment on a Lawmaker’s Post

Respectfully. Publicly. Clearly.

Parents need to stop whispering in private and start speaking where people can see it.

6. Wear School Spirit Gear

At the store.

At work.

At the gas station.

Normalize pride in your child and your school.

7. Attend Something Local

School board meeting.

Community event.

Candidate night.

Breakfast fundraiser.

Presence matters.

8. Take a Picture With Your Kids

Not for vanity.

For legacy.

One day they’ll know you fought for them.

9. Ask One Hard Question

Where is the money going?

Who benefits?

Why are parents ignored until election season?

You don’t need permission to ask.

10. Support Another Parent

Share their post.

Encourage them.

Back them up in the comments.

Movements grow when parents stop feeling alone.

11. Put the Election Date Everywhere

Calendar. Fridge. Phone reminder.

May 19, 2026.

Treat it like it matters—because it does.

12. Bring Your Kids Into the Conversation

Teach them voting matters.

Teach them civic engagement matters.

Teach them parents should never sit quietly while decisions are made for families.

13. Actually Vote

The simplest thing.

The most powerful thing.

If parents voted at the level they complained, Pennsylvania politics would look very different.

This is bigger than one election.

This is about whether parents become a force politicians fear ignoring.

The loudest people shouldn’t always be the lobbyists.

Sometimes it should be moms and dads saying:

Enough. Look at our kids.

I’ve got a soft spot for this one.

I was a varsity golfer. I remember the quiet of a course more than the noise of a gym. I remember leaving school early, clubs in the trunk, chasing daylight. No crowd. No spotlight. Just you, the swing, and a chance to get a little better.

That mattered.

It still does.

Which is why this feels… off.

Because now I’m watching conversations at the state level—lawmakers debating playoff formats, regulations tightening, decisions being made in rooms far away from locker rooms—and I can’t shake the question:

Why is the state this deep in high school sports?

I get the argument.

Sports create opportunity.
They build discipline.
They give kids a reason to show up, belong, and push themselves.

That part is real. I’ve lived it.

But somewhere along the way, we didn’t just support sports—we built an industry around them.

And that’s where it starts to lose me.

We’ve got million-dollar stadiums for teenagers.

We’ve got turf fields replacing grass—not because it’s better for kids, but because it’s easier to maintain and monetize.

We’ve got broadcast deals and paywalls to watch your own local team play on a Friday night.

And now… we’ve got lawmakers spending time debating playoff structures.

Let that sink in.

In a world where families are fighting for educational stability, where budgets are tight, where real issues are stacking up…

We’re debating playoff formats.

This isn’t anti-sports.

This is pro-common sense.

There’s a difference.

Because when I think back to those golf matches, there wasn’t a dollar attached to it. No branding strategy. No revenue model. Just a school giving kids a chance to compete.

That’s the point, right?

Student athlete.

Not athlete first. Not content creator. Not revenue generator.

Student.

And the broadcast piece? That one really sticks.

Why can’t local schools stream their own games freely?

Why does a parent have to hit a paywall to watch their kid play?

We talk about community, but then we lock it behind subscriptions.

That doesn’t feel like access.
That feels like extraction.

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I’m not naive.

I know sports cost money. I know facilities need upkeep. I know organization matters.

But there’s a line between supporting something and overengineering it.

And I think we crossed it.

Quietly.

Maybe the better question isn’t “How do we regulate high school sports better?”

Maybe it’s:

“Why are we regulating them at this level in the first place?”

What happened to local control?
What happened to communities deciding what works for their kids?
What happened to keeping the focus on participation, not production?

Because if we’re being honest…

This isn’t just about sports.

It’s about how easily we let good things turn into systems.

And once something becomes a system, it attracts money, rules, influence—and suddenly the original purpose starts to fade.

I still love the game.

Always will.

But I don’t love what it’s becoming.

And I think a lot of parents, a lot of former players, a lot of people watching from the outside are starting to feel the same tension:

We want kids to play.

We just don’t want them turned into products.

So maybe it’s time to pull this back a little.

Let schools be schools.
Let communities lead.
Let kids compete without being part of a bigger machine.

Keep the lights on Friday nights.

Just don’t let them blind us to what really matters.

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There’s a lot of noise in politics right now—ads, endorsements, party lines, and talking points flying in every direction. But strip all that away, and one thing becomes clear:

These races will impact your kid’s classroom.

Not someday. Not in theory.
Right now.

Across Pennsylvania, key State Senate and House primaries are unfolding that will decide who sits in the rooms where education funding, policy, and priorities are set. And too often, those decisions happen without real input from the people most affected—parents.

Let’s change that.

State Senate Races to Watch

• 18th District (Democratic) — Sen. Lisa Boscola vs. Taiba Sultana

• 20th District (Republican) — Sen. Lisa Baker vs. Tyler Meyers

• 22nd District (Democratic) — Sen. Marty Flynn vs. Jeffrey Lake

• 42nd District (Democratic) — Sen. Wayne Fontana vs. Paul Steenkiste

• 46th District (Republican) — Sen. Camera Bartolotta vs. Albert Buchtan

• 48th District (Republican) — Sen. Chris Gebhard vs. Clovis Crane

State House Races to Watch

• 22nd District (Democratic) — Rep. Ana Tiburcio vs. Ce-Ce Gerlach

• 91st District (Republican) — Rep. Dan Moul vs. Lindsay Krug vs. Nickolas Lovell

• 117th District (Republican) — Rep. Jamie Walsh vs. Bill Jones

• 159th District (Democratic) — Rep. Carol Kazeem vs. Brian Kirkland

• 166th District (Democratic) — Rep. Greg Vitali vs. Judy Trombetta

• 195th District (Democratic) — Rep. Keith Harris vs. Sierra McNeil vs. Kenneth Walker

These are just some of the races drawing attention statewide—but here’s the truth:

👉 The most important race is the one in your district.

What Needs to Happen Next

We’ve spent too long watching from the sidelines while others define what education should look like for our kids.

That ends now.

If you’re a parent, you don’t need permission to engage—you need a plan:

1. Reach out directly
Email these candidates. Ask simple, direct questions:

• Where do you stand on education funding?

• How do you define fairness for families?

• What is your position on school choice options?

2. Get them on the record
No vague answers. No talking points.
Ask for clarity—and keep the receipts.

3. Show up with your kids
Take them to events. Let candidates see the faces behind the policies.

4. Document everything
Photos. Videos. Conversations.
Because stories move people—but proof moves systems.

5. Share what you learn
Post it. Talk about it. Tag them.
Make it impossible for these conversations to stay hidden.

This Isn’t Politics—It’s Personal

At the end of the day, this isn’t about red vs. blue.

It’s about whether the people asking for your vote are willing to stand in front of your family and answer real questions.

Because if they won’t talk to you now…
they won’t listen later.

We’ve treated politics like a spectator sport for too long.

But when it comes to our kids?

We don’t sit in the stands.

We step onto the field.

There’s something electric about draft night.

Hope.
Energy.
Belief that this next pick could change everything.

In a city that bleeds black and gold for the Pittsburgh Steelers, we know what it looks like to rally behind a team. We know how to show up. We know how to get loud. We know how to believe in potential before it’s proven.

But here’s the question that won’t let me sit still:

Do we do that for our kids?

We talk about quarterbacks at the watercooler.
We debate draft picks like our opinions matter—because in that world, they do.

But when it comes to our kids?

Too often, the conversations get quiet.
The passion gets muted.
The urgency fades into “someone else will handle it.”

What if we flipped that?

What if our kids were the first-round pick every single year?

What if we:

• Talked about their schools like we talk about trades

• Showed up for meetings like we show up for kickoff

• Defended their future like we defend our team

• Got loud—real loud—when decisions didn’t go their way

Because let’s be honest…

Nobody ever won a championship sitting quietly on the sidelines.

We know what winning looks like.

It’s preparation.
It’s showing up.
It’s belief.
It’s community.

And most of all—it’s ownership.

Fans don’t just watch a team.
They become part of it.

That’s the mindset shift we need.

Because raising strong, capable, supported kids?
That’s our Super Bowl.

And here’s the truth nobody says out loud:

There is no draft redo for our kids.

No second chance season.
No rebuilding year that gives time back.

Every decision made today shapes tomorrow.

So yeah—get loud.

Talk about your kids at the watercooler.
Share their stories.
Stand up in rooms where decisions are made.
Call out what’s wrong.
Celebrate what’s working.

Bring that same energy. That same pride. That same fire.

Because if we can pack a stadium for a game…

We sure as hell can stand up for our kids.

And when we do?

That’s how we win it all.

I know a lot of you have already reached out to your lawmakers.
You’ve sent the emails.
You’ve made the calls.
You’ve shown up when you could.

And I also know the frustration that comes with feeling like nothing is moving.

But maybe we’ve been thinking about this the wrong way.

Maybe it’s not about one email.
Maybe it’s not about one visit.
Maybe it’s not even about Harrisburg.

Maybe it’s about every day.

Maybe today, you tell one person about your child’s school.
Maybe you share how a public cyber charter—or whatever school your family chose—has made a difference in your home.
Maybe you post in your local Facebook group about why your school matters.

Maybe you take that group text that usually drives you crazy…
…and instead, you drop your lawmaker’s number in there and say:
“Call. Tell them about your kid.”

Maybe it’s a quick email.
Maybe it’s a phone call.
Maybe it’s stopping by an office when you’re nearby.

None of these things feel huge on their own.
But together? They’re everything.

Because here’s the reality—
The other side has millions of dollars.
They have teams of people repeating the same message over and over again.

What do we have?

We have something stronger—
We have real stories.
We have real kids.
We have real outcomes.

And if every parent made even one small, intentional action each day…
we wouldn’t just be part of the conversation—
we would change it.

This doesn’t have to be a fight.
It doesn’t have to be conflict.

It needs to be a conversation.

Tell your barber.
Talk to that parent you see at the store.
Start a small group of local parents and just begin talking, sharing, organizing.

Not everyone can go to Harrisburg.
Not everyone should.

I can go a couple times a year.
I can shake hands, send emails, make calls, ask questions about bills.

But this movement?

It doesn’t grow because of a few people doing a lot.

It grows when everyone does a little.

And when that happens—
those small actions don’t stay small for long.

They add up.
They build momentum.
They turn the tide.

Every day. Every voice. Every parent.

That’s how this works.

The Starting Point: A Real District, Real Scale

Let’s take the politics out of it and start with the numbers.

The School District of Philadelphia serves:

• 118,092 students

And operates with:

• $4.663 billion in total expenditures

🧮 Per Student Spending (Current System)

👉 $4,663,000,000 ÷ 118,092 students

➡️ ≈ $39,485 per student

Let that sit for a second.

Philadelphia is operating at nearly $40,000 per student.

💻 Now Apply Proposed Cyber Charter Rates

The policy conversation on the table is around:

👉 ~$8,000 per student

🎓 Same Students:

➡️ 118,092 students

💰 New Funding Level:

➡️ $8,000 per student

👉 Total Budget:
➡️ $944,736,000

⚖️ The Gap

• Current system: $4.663 billion

• $8K model: $944 million

👉 Difference: ~$3.7 BILLION

This is not a minor adjustment.

This is a complete structural reset.

🧱 Where the Current Money Goes

Philadelphia’s system is built around:

👩‍🏫 Teachers:

• 8,000 (FTE)

🧑‍💼 + 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Everyone Else:

• 11,712 additional staff

👉 Total workforce: ~19,700

📊 Staff Reality:

• Teachers: ~41%

• Non-teachers: ~59%

💡 What That Means Per Student

👩‍🏫 Students per Teacher:

➡️ 118,092 ÷ 8,000 ≈ 14.7 students per teacher

🧑‍💼 Students per Total Staff:

➡️ 118,092 ÷ 19,712 ≈ 6 students per adult

👉 That’s a highly staffed system.

💸 What Happens Under an $8,000 Model

At $944 million total funding, the system must fit inside that number.

But today’s system is built to operate at:

👉 $4.6 billion

🚨 Reality Check:

If nothing changes:

• You cannot fund current staffing levels

• You cannot fund current compensation levels

• You cannot fund current system structure

🔍 So What Actually Changes?

There are only three levers:

1. Reduce compensation

2. Reduce staffing

3. Reduce system overhead

🎯 The Key Question for Lawmakers

This is not about eliminating services.

It’s about prioritizing them.

At $8,000 per student, lawmakers must decide:

• What is essential to student learning?

• What supports the classroom directly?

• What exists outside of instruction?

👨‍👩‍👧 What Parents Should Understand

Parents don’t experience “$39,000 per student.”

They experience:

• Class sizes

• Teacher access

• Support services

• Communication

• Outcomes

So when they hear:

“We spend nearly $40,000 per student”

The natural question becomes:

👉 Where is that money actually going?

⚠️ The Structural Reality

Philadelphia expanded significantly in recent years:

• More staff

• More programs

• More services

Many of these were funded through temporary federal relief dollars.

Now those funds are disappearing.

👉 Which means:

The system is now trying to sustain permanent costs with shrinking revenue.

🍎 The Real Conversation

This is not:

❌ District vs Cyber
❌ Public vs Charter

This is:

👉 Structure vs sustainability

Because once you apply:

• $39,485 per student (current)
  vs

• $8,000 per student (proposed)

You are forced to ask:

👉 What actually matters most in education spending?

🍎 Final Thought

At $8,000 per student, education does not disappear.

But the system around it cannot stay the same.

“$8K REALITY CHECK”

• 🟥 Teachers → FULLY FUNDED

• 🟦 Admin → FULLY FUNDED

• ⚫ Everything Else → Must fit in $165M

🍎 Candy Apple Close

Parents aren’t asking for less education.
They’re asking for clarity on why it costs so much—and what it’s actually delivering.

The Starting Point: A Real District, Real Numbers

Let’s take the emotion out of the debate for a moment and look at something concrete.

The Millcreek Township School District operates with:

• 6,341 students

• $119,143,295 total annual budget 24-25

That equals:

• $18,789 per student

This is not an estimate. This is the actual, adopted budget.

Where the Money Comes From

Millcreek’s funding is not mysterious—it’s clearly defined:

• $79.8 million from local sources (mostly property taxes)

• $37.7 million from the state

• $2.8 million from federal sources

That means:

• Roughly two-thirds of funding comes from local taxpayers

This matters—because any conversation about school funding is, at its core, a conversation about your local tax bill.

Where the Money Goes

Out of that $119 million:

• $68.1 million (57%) goes to instruction

• $38.4 million (32%) goes to support services (administration, operations, etc.)

• $9.9 million (8%) goes to debt and transfers

When broken down per student:

• $10,739 per student → instruction

• ~$8,000 per student → everything else

That’s an important distinction.

The People Behind the Numbers

Millcreek employs approximately:

• 470 teachers

• 87 administrators and administrative support staff

• 269 support staff (aides, counselors, etc.)

That’s 826 total staff members serving 6,341 students.

On paper:

• About 13.5 students per teacher

• But also:

  • 43% of staff are not classroom teachers

What Actually Reaches the Classroom

From the total budget:

• Teacher salaries: $24.4 million

• Benefits: $15.6 million

That’s roughly:

• $40 million for teacher compensation

Per student:

• ~$6,300 goes to teacher salary and benefits

So while the system spends nearly $19,000 per student, only about one-third directly supports teacher pay.

Now Let’s Apply the $8,000 Question

What happens if you fund the same district at $8,000 per student?

With 6,341 students:

• Total budget becomes $50.7 million

If you keep the same spending structure:

• Instruction: $28.9 million

• Support: $16.2 million

• Debt/other: ~$5 million

The Reality Check

Right now, Millcreek spends:

• ~$40 million on teacher compensation

Under an $8,000 model:

• The entire instruction budget is only $28.9 million

That means:

• You cannot maintain current staffing and compensation levels

• Something has to change

What Would Have to Change?

There are only a few options:

1. Reduce teacher salaries

2. Reduce the number of teachers

3. Reduce costs outside the classroom

That third option is where the real conversation begins.

The Bigger Question

This isn’t just about $8,000 vs $19,000.

It’s about understanding:

• What portion of funding actually reaches the classroom

• How staffing is structured

• And how much of the system exists outside of direct instruction

Final Thought

If a system currently spends nearly $19,000 per student, and only about $6,300 reaches teacher compensation, then the real question isn’t:

“Is $8,000 enough?”

It’s:

“What are we paying for in the other $11,000?”

Parents aren’t asking for less education.

They’re asking for clarity, accountability, and honesty about where the money actually goes.

There’s a reason you don’t see it published in one clean place.

And there’s a reason parents are constantly told a story that doesn’t quite match reality.

Because when you put these numbers side by side — really side by side — the narrative starts to crack.

Let’s be clear about what this data actually is.

• Actual Instruction Expense – what is truly being spent to educate students

• Total Expenditures – everything the district spends

• Average Daily Membership (ADM) – the real student count

• Per-Student Spending (Total ÷ ADM) – the true cost per student

• District Charter Rate (Non-Special Ed) – what districts pay for public charter students

And then the key number:

👉 District Spend vs Charter Rate — the difference

Here’s the part they don’t want talked about:

This comparison has nothing to do with special education.

None of it.

This is a clean, straightforward, apples-to-apples look at regular education spending.

And yet…

• PDE does not present it this way

• Reports avoid putting these numbers directly together

• Conversations get redirected back to “complexity” instead of clarity

Why?

Because clarity changes the conversation.

When you divide Total Expenditures by ADM, you get the real per-student cost inside a district.

Not a talking point.
Not a press release number.
The actual cost.

And when you line that up next to the charter tuition rate, something uncomfortable happens:

➡️ The gap becomes visible
➡️ The assumptions fall apart
➡️ The question changes from “Why are charters so expensive?”
➡️ To “Why are we being told that?”

This is exactly why parents are frustrated.

Not because they don’t understand the system…

But because they’re starting to.

And once you see it, you can’t unsee it.

You start asking better questions:

• Why isn’t this comparison standard in every report?

• Why are we debating pathways instead of outcomes and cost transparency?

• Why are the cheapest public schools still the first ones attacked?

This isn’t about picking sides.

This is about telling the truth in plain English.

Parents don’t need a 200-page report.

They need one honest number:

👉 What are we spending per student… and how does that compare?

The data you’re about to see answers that.

And it’s exactly why it’s never presented this way.

Final Thought

If the system worked the way they say it does…
They wouldn’t be afraid of this math.

Call to Action:

📊 Review the full data
📣 Share this with another parent
🏛️ Ask your lawmaker one simple question:

“What is the fully funded per-student rate in my district?”

And don’t let them change the subject.

Not debates.
Not votes.
Not headlines.

Memos.

Co-sponsorship memos—where lawmakers quietly outline what they support, what they want to change, and where they’re headed next.

We pulled them.
Read them.
Stacked them.

And when you do that?

You start to see something bigg

Lawmaker: Sen. Lindsey Williams
Link: https://www.palegis.us/senate/co-sponsorship/memo?memoID=48259

Summary:
Focuses on education funding reform and adequacy, including:

• Ensuring districts receive sufficient resources

• Aligning funding with student needs

• Addressing gaps in current funding structures

Signal:
Push toward increased baseline funding and redistribution models.

Lawmaker: Sen. Vincent Hughes
Link: https://www.palegis.us/senate/co-sponsorship/memo?memoID=47636

Summary:
Addresses education funding equity, including:

• Closing funding disparities

• Targeting underfunded districts

• Increasing state investment

Signal:
Reinforces equity-driven funding reform.

Lawmaker: Sen. Tim Kearney
Link: https://www.palegis.us/senate/co-sponsorship/memo?memoID=47470

Summary:
Focuses on school safety and student well-being, including:

• Mental health supports

• Safety infrastructure

• Expanded student services

Signal:
Adds to district cost and service expansion narrative.

Lawmaker: Sen. Amanda Cappelletti
Link: https://www.palegis.us/senate/co-sponsorship/memo?memoID=46584

Summary:
Addresses student support and school resources, including:

• Behavioral health programs

• Student-centered services

• Expanded school support systems

Signal:
Builds case for increased district funding needs.

Lawmaker: Sen. Judith Schwank
Link: https://www.palegis.us/senate/co-sponsorship/memo?memoID=46375

Summary:
Focuses on education workforce challenges, including:

• Teacher shortages

• Recruitment and retention

• Supporting educators

Signal:
Supports argument for increased funding tied to staffing.

Lawmaker: Sen. Maria Collett
Link: https://www.palegis.us/senate/co-sponsorship/memo?memoID=46358

Summary:
Focuses on mental health services in schools, including:

• Expanding access

• Increasing funding

• Supporting student well-being

Signal:
Reinforces “schools need more resources” narrative.

Lawmaker: Sen. Art Haywood
Link: https://www.palegis.us/senate/co-sponsorship/memo?memoID=46156

Summary:
Addresses education equity and opportunity gaps, including:

• Supporting underserved students

• Increasing access to resources

• Targeted funding approaches

Signal:

Lawmaker: Sen. Steve Santarsiero
Link: https://www.palegis.us/senate/co-sponsorship/memo?memoID=45979

Summary:
Focuses on education funding accountability and structure, including:

• Reviewing how funds are allocated

• Improving transparency

• Strengthening financial oversight

Signal:
Supports system-wide funding adjustments and oversight.

Lawmaker: Sen. Sharif Street
Link: https://www.palegis.us/senate/co-sponsorship/memo?memoID=44547

Summary:
Addresses education access and equity, including:

• Reducing barriers to education

• Expanding opportunity

• Supporting underserved populations

Signal:
Early foundation for equity-first policy direction.

Lawmaker: Sen. Jay Costa
Link: https://www.palegis.us/senate/co-sponsorship/memo?memoID=44183

Summary:
Focuses on broad education funding reform, including:

• Increasing investment

• Addressing disparities

• Long-term funding sustainability

Signal:
Sets stage for larger funding restructuring conversations.

Lawmaker: Sen. Nikil Saval
Link: https://www.palegis.us/senate/co-sponsorship/memo?memoID=44124

Summary:
Focuses on school infrastructure and facilities, including:

• Building repairs

• Capital improvements

• Modernizing school environments

Signal:
Adds to district funding demand beyond classroom costs.

Lawmaker: Sen. Lindsey Williams
Link: https://www.palegis.us/senate/co-sponsorship/memo?memoID=44148

Summary:
Addresses education funding equity and student needs, including:

• Aligning funding with student populations

• Addressing inequities

• Supporting public education systems

Signal:
Reinforces redistribution and adequacy models.

Lawmaker: Sen. Vincent Hughes
Link: https://www.palegis.us/senate/co-sponsorship/memo?memoID=43508

Summary:
Focuses on education investment and funding priorities, including:

• Increasing state funding

• Addressing long-term needs

• Supporting district systems

Signal:
Early push for expanded funding commitments.

Lawmaker: Sen. Art Haywood
Link: https://www.palegis.us/senate/co-sponsorship/memo?memoID=43469

Summary:
Addresses education equity and systemic reform, including:

• Closing achievement gaps

• Expanding access

• Structural funding changes

Signal:
Foundational memo for equity-driven reform direction.

Key Senators

These show up multiple times—important for engagement:

• Sen. Lindsey Williams (48259, 44148)

• Sen. Vincent Hughes (47636, 43508)

• Sen. Art Haywood (46156, 43469)

Primary Election – Your Moment to Respond

🗳️ May 19, 2026
⏰ Polls open: 7:00 AM – 8:00 PM

📝 Register by: May 4, 2026
📬 Mail-in ballot request by: May 12, 2026

Let’s Ask the Question

Because now you’ve seen it.

👉 Do you agree with your Senator?
👉 Did something here stand out to you?
👉 Did you find something you want to engage with?

You Don’t Have to Stay Quiet

📌 Call their office
📌 Send an email
📌 Tag them publicly
📌 Ask direct questions

Because these memos?

They’re not the end.

They’re the beginning.

There’s a moment in every fight where the pieces stop looking random.

Where things that felt disconnected…
suddenly line up.

That’s where we are right now in Pennsylvania education.

Not with a bill.
Not with a vote.
But with something most people never read:

Co-sponsorship memos.

What Most People Miss

Before legislation is introduced…
before headlines…
before the debate…

Lawmakers signal their intent.

Quietly.

Through memos.

And when you line them up—not one, not two, but dozens—you don’t just see ideas.

You see a direction.

Funding, Equity & Redistribution

• Rep. Elizabeth Fiedler (43853)
  Focus on long-term public education investment and sustainability.

• Rep. Rick Krajewski (43958)
  Push for structural education funding reform and fairness.

• Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta (44112)
  Addressing economic barriers and access to education.

• Rep. Chris Rabb (44259)
  Exploring new and alternative funding models.

• Rep. Ismail Smith-Wade-El (44866)
  Emphasis on adequate and equitable school funding.

• Rep. Carol Kazeem (45227)
  Targeting resource gaps in underserved communities.

• Rep. Robert Freeman (45775)
  Closing funding gaps between districts.

• Rep. Justin Fleming (46241)
  Modernizing how education dollars are distributed.

• Rep. James Roebuck (47212)
  Ensuring adequate funding across all districts.

• Rep. Carol Hill-Evans (47319)
  Aligning funding with student-based needs.

• Rep. Ryan Bizzarro (48006)
  Expanding fair funding formulas statewide.

District Costs, Services & “Pressure” Narrative

• Rep. Donna Bullock (44021)
  Expanding community schools and wraparound services.

• Rep. Manuel Guzman Jr. (44906)
  Support for multilingual learners and language access.

• Rep. Ed Neilson (45094)
  Growth in career and technical education (CTE).

• Rep. Aerion Abney (45332)
  Expanding student opportunities and support programs.

• Rep. Jeanne McNeill (45429)
  Increased focus on school safety and security funding.

• Rep. Dan Williams (45627)
  Addressing teacher shortages and staffing needs.

• Rep. Gina Curry (46071)
  Expanding student wellness and behavioral health programs.

• Rep. Elizabeth Fiedler (46208)
  Funding for school buildings and infrastructure upgrades.

• Rep. Mike Schlossberg (46426)
  Expanding school-based mental health services.

• Rep. Brian Munroe (46732)
  Increasing student support services and safety measures.

• Rep. Mary Isaacson (48055)
  Highlighting financial strain from special education and mental health costs.

Charter & Cyber School Oversight / Regulation

• Rep. Regina Young (44606, 47510)
  Strengthening charter school accountability and transparency.

• Rep. Mark Longietti (47053)
  Expanding financial reporting and oversight requirements.

• Rep. Jennifer O’Mara (47243)
  Modernizing charter oversight systems.

• Rep. Lisa Borowski (48040)
  Increasing charter transparency and financial disclosure rules.

• Rep. Christina Sappey (45633)
  Broader push for education spending transparency.

Charter vs District Framing

• Rep. Steve Samuelson (47634)
  Focus on financial impact of charter tuition on district budgets.

Cyber Charter Funding Changes

• Rep. Peter Schweyer (46812)
  Standardizing and reducing cyber charter tuition rates.

• Rep. Joe Ciresi (48005)
  Aligning cyber funding with “actual costs” and lowering payments.

When You Step Back… This Is What You See

Not chaos.

A pattern.

Step 1: Build the Case

Equity. Sustainability. “We need more.”

Step 2: Expand the Need

Mental health. Safety. Staffing. Facilities. Language services.

Step 3: Reinforce Pressure

Districts are struggling. Budgets are tight.

Step 4: Apply Scrutiny

Charters need oversight. Transparency. Regulation.

Step 5: Adjust the Flow

Cyber funding gets reduced. Formulas get rewritten.

Step 6: Restructure the System

Redistribution. Reallocation. Control.

Let’s Be Clear

None of these memos alone tell the full story.

Together?

They do.

This is how policy is shaped before you ever hear about it.

Now Let’s Talk About You

Because this is where it changes.

Pennsylvania Primary Election – 2026

🗳️ Election Day: May 19, 2026
⏰ Polls Open: 7:00 AM – 8:00 PM

📝 Last Day to Register: May 4, 2026
📬 Last Day to Request Mail-In Ballot: May 12, 2026

Here’s The Question No One Is Asking (But Should Be)

👉 Do you agree with your lawmaker?
👉 Do you even know where they stand?
👉 Did you find one of these memos that made you stop and think?

Because You Can Do Something About It

This isn’t a closed room.

This is still your system.

📌 Call them
📌 Email them
📌 Tag them
📌 Ask questions

You don’t need to be an expert.

You just need to be engaged.

The Candy Apple Truth

We can debate funding.
We can debate models.
We can debate outcomes.

But none of it matters if parents aren’t in the room.

And right now?

The room is being filled.

Final Thought

These memos are not the end.

They’re the beginning.

And the primary election?

That’s your response.

Call to Action

👇 Drop it in the comments:

• Do you agree with your lawmaker?

• Did one of these stand out to you?

• Are you reaching out?

Because if there’s one thing we’ve learned…

The people who show up early… shape what happens next.

Last week, parents across Pennsylvania laid their cards on the table.

On March 4, families showed up. They wore blue. They shared their stories. They reminded everyone watching that parents are paying attention.

And people noticed.

But if you think that was the whole game, you’re mistaken.

That was just one hand.

The truth is, March 4 was never meant to be the final play. It was a signal — a way of showing that parents are engaged, organized, and ready to speak when it matters.

Because when it comes to our children, the stakes are too high to sit quietly at the table.

Across the Commonwealth, parents, grandparents, and caregivers spoke with pride about the paths their families have chosen. Not out of anger, but out of experience.

They’ve seen the difference.

They know what works for their children.

And they’re not afraid to say it.

But even with that momentum, we have to remember something important.

March 4 was just one day.

There are many more conversations ahead.
Many more decisions ahead.
And yes — many more battles ahead.

The cards are still on the table.

Everyone now knows parents are watching.

And at some point soon, parents will speak up again.

No one knows exactly when.

That’s part of the surprise.

Because sometimes the most powerful move in a game isn’t the one everyone sees coming.

For now, the message is simple:

Stay tuned.

The next hand hasn’t been played yet.

🔵 #PAOneDay
🔵 #MovementMonday