Josh Shapiro on Education

	Josh Shapiro on Education

$100 million in public money to private & religious schools

Palestine is not Shapiro's only progressive heresy. Just before October 7, he drew fire from teachers' unions and public education advocates for supporting a Republican-backed plan to funnel $100 million in public money to private and religious schools. Although he was ultimately forced to back down under pressure, many are deeply and understandably skeptical of his commitment to public education Source: The New Republic on 2024 Vice Presidential hopefuls , Jul 24, 2024

$66.7 million investment to increase early child care jobs

Pennsylvania has nearly 4,000 unfilled child care jobs and 38,300 children on waitlists. If those jobs were filled, we could make sure nearly every child on that waitlist had a spot. In order to hire those vital front line workers, we need to pay folks a competitive salary and give them the benefits they deserve. That's why I'm proposing a $66.7 million investment in Child Care Works to give more parents access to stable child care for their kids. Source: 2023 State of the State Address to Pennsylvania legislature , Mar 7, 2023

Fully fund and fix up our schools

We can keep Pennsylvania's promise to our students by fully funding and fixing up our schools, prioritizing mental health, empowering students with vocational, technical, and computer training, and ensuring parents have a real voice in their children's education. As Governor, Josh will tackle these challenges head on and ensure we build opportunity for Pennsylvania's children. Source: 2022 Pennsylvania Governor campaign website JoshShapiro.org , May 18, 2022

Cost-free preschool will be an essential lifeline

Officials broke ground on the first cost-free Early Childhood Resource Center. Shapiro attended the groundbreaking and said he believes the plan is eventually going to make a difference for thousands of children throughout the Commonwealth. "This school will be an essential lifeline and put children in need on a path where they can access quality education certainly and most importantly realize their full potential as individuals," he said. Source: PennLive.com on 2022 Pennsylvania Gubernatorial race , Nov 10, 2021

Protect student borrowers from predatory lenders

Pennsylvanians are drowning in student debt. Some stats to prove it: Across the entire country, the debt load for college graduates totals $1.5 trillion. In Pennsylvania, 1.7 million borrowers have $58.7 billion in debt just from federal loans. That equates to roughly $34,000 of debt per borrower statewide.

Attorney General Shapiro has emerged as a local defender against burdensome student debt. Shapiro has long focused on student debt, promising as a candidate to "protect student borrowers from predatory lenders and collection agencies." According to his own calculations, he's earned almost $50 million of debt relief for Pennsylvania students to date.

Among Shapiro's successes: joining a lawsuit against the private lender Student CU Connect CUSO, which had partnered with the now-bankrupt for-profit college ITT Tech to issue what Shapiro and other attorneys general alleged were predatory loans. That settlement totaled $168 million--$5.3 million earmarked for students from Pennsylvania.

Source: Philly Magazine on 2024 Vice Presidential hopefuls , Oct 1, 2019

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*Other governors on Education:*			*Josh Shapiro on other issues:*
*PA Gubernatorial:* Doug Mastriano Joe Gale Melissa Hart Scott Martin William McSwain *PA Senatorial:* Bob Casey Carla Sands Conor Lamb Craig Snyder David McCormick Everett Stern Jeff Bartos John Fetterman Kathy Barnette Malcolm Kenyatta Mehmet Oz Sean Parnell Sharif Street Val Arkoosh	*Gubernatorial races 2025:* *New Jersey Governor:* Democratic primary June 10, 2025: Ras Baraka, Mayor of Newark (2014-present) Steven Fulop, Mayor of Jersey City (2013-present) Josh Gottheimer, U.S. Rep. NJ-5 (since 2017) Mikie Sherrill, U.S. Rep. NJ-11 (since 2019); elected Nov. 4. Stephen Sweeney, N.J.Senate President (2010-2022) Republican primary June 10, 2025: Jon Bramnick, State Senator (since 2022); Minority Leader (2012-2022) Jack Ciattarelli, State Assemblyman (2011-2018), governor nominee (2021 & 2025); lost general election Edward Durr, State Senator 3rd district (2022-2024); withdrew *Virginia Governor:* Democratic primary June 17 cancelled: Abigail Spanberger, U.S.Rep., VA-7 (2019-2024); Dem. nominee 2025; elected Nov. 4. Levar Stoney, VA Secretary of the Commonwealth (2014-2016); (withdrew to run for Lt. Gov.) Republican primary June 17 cancelled: Winsome Earle-Sears, Lt. Gov. since 2022; GOP nominee 2025; lost general election Amanda Chase, State Senate District 11 (2016-2023); failed to make ballot Denver Riggleman, U.S.Rep. (R-VA-5); exploratory committee as Independent Glenn Youngkin, Incumbent Governor , (2022-2025), term-limited	*Mayoral races 2025:* *NYC Mayor Democratic primary June 24, 2025:* Adrienne Adams, speaker of the City Council Andrew Cuomo, former governor of New York, 2011-2021 (Independent candidate). Zohran Mamdani, New York State Assembly, 2021-2025 (Democratic nominee); elected Nov. 4. Republican June 24 primary cancelled; general election Nov. 4: Eric Adams, incumbent Democratic mayor running as an independent Jim Walden, Independent; Former assistant U.S. Attorney Curtis Sliwa, Republican nominee; CEO of the Guardian Angels *Jersey City Mayor (Non-partisan)* Non-partisan general election Nov. 4; runoff Dec. 2: Mussab Ali, former president of the Jersey City Board of Education Steven Fulop, outgoing Mayor (2013-2025) Bill O'Dea, Hudson County commissioner (since 1997) Jim McGreevey, former N.J. Governor (2002-2004) James Solomon, city councilor (since 2017) Joyce Watterman, president of the Jersey City Council (since 2023) *Oakland CA Mayor* Non-partisan special election April 14, 2025: Barbara Lee, U.S.Rep CA-12 (1998-2025) Loren Taylor, Oakland City Council (2019-2023), lost general election Sheng Thao, Oakland Mayor, lost recall election Nov. 5, 2024	Abortion Budget/Economy Civil Rights Corporations Crime Drugs Education Energy/Oil Environment Families/Children Foreign Policy Free Trade Govt. Reform Gun Control Health Care Homeland Security Immigration Infrastructure/Technology Jobs Local Issues Principles/Values Social Security Tax Reform War/Iraq/Mideast Welfare/Poverty [Title9]