FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Josh Shapiro Urges 200+ Jewish Students to Stand Proud Amid Rising Antisemitism at Teach PA Advocacy Day
Students, Parents, and School Leaders Press Lawmakers on Security Funding and Scholarships as Antisemitic Hate Crimes Quadruple in Pennsylvania
HARRISBURG, PA — Governor Josh Shapiro delivered a message of Jewish pride and religious freedom Monday as more than 200 Jewish students, parents, and school leaders gathered at the Pennsylvania State Capitol for Teach PA’s annual Advocacy Day. Speaking in the Capitol Rotunda, Shapiro, Pennsylvania’s first Jewish governor, encouraged students to remain proud of their identity and faith at a time of rising antisemitism and growing security concerns facing Jewish communities across the Commonwealth and nation.
“I’m sure William Penn never imagined the Jewish governor talking to a bunch of Jewish students here in the state capitol, but I’ll bet he’d be proud, because that is what we started back in 1682, and that is what we continue to work on today in 2026,” Gov. Shapiro said. “Don’t ever let anyone give you a hard time for being proud of who you are, for wearing your star, for telling people how you worship, for what you believe in. In this country, everyone is free to be themselves.”
The gathering brought students from across Pennsylvania, representing more than 4,300 Jewish day school students statewide, to Harrisburg to advocate for stronger school security funding, greater access to scholarships, and expanded educational opportunities.
Teach PA highlighted the growing burden security costs have placed on Jewish schools. A recent study found that average security expenses rose 75 percent since 2023, increasing from $58,000 to $98,000 annually, while antisemitic hate crimes in Pennsylvania quadrupled in the year following October 7.
The organization urged lawmakers to increase funding for the Targeted School Safety Grants for Nonpublic Schools program from $19.4 million to $30 million annually and raise the per-school cap from $75,000 to $125,000 so schools can better meet growing protection needs. Advocates noted that many schools quickly exhaust current grant caps, forcing students and institutions to absorb the remaining costs.
Students also called for continued support of Pennsylvania’s Educational Improvement Tax Credit and Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit programs, which provide scholarships for thousands of students statewide and help families afford tuition.
Students further urged Pennsylvania to opt in to the new Federal Tax Credit Scholarship Program, so billions in potential education support are not redirected to other states. Teach PA estimates the Commonwealth could receive approximately $3.1 billion through participation.
Students also called for support of a new $1 million STEM teacher initiative to expand science and technology opportunities for nonpublic school students across Pennsylvania.
The gathering coincided with a Senate effort to designate the week of April 26 through May 2, 2026, as Jewish Day Schools Week in Pennsylvania. A co-sponsorship memo now circulating in the State Senate recognizes the role of the Commonwealth’s 34 Jewish day schools in educating students, strengthening communities, and serving families across Pennsylvania, home to more than 400,000 Jewish residents.
Students met with a bipartisan group of state leaders, including Speaker Joanna McClinton; Sen. Jay Costa, Senate Democratic Leader; Sen. Kim Ward, Senate President Pro Tempore; Sen. Joe Pittman, Senate Majority Leader; Rep. Matt Bradford, House Majority Leader; Rep. Kristin Marcell, State Representative from Bucks County; and Rep. Jordan Harris, House Appropriations Committee Chair.
Participating schools included Mesivta of Bala Cynwyd, KTA of Bala Cynwyd, Beis Yaakov of Scranton, Beth Shalom Academy of Scranton, Scranton Hebrew Day School, Kohelet Yeshiva of Merion Station, Robert M. Barrack Hebrew Academy of Bryn Mawr, Caskey Torah Academy of Wynnewood, Yeshiva Schools of Pittsburgh, Hillel Academy of Pittsburgh, and Community Day School of Pittsburgh.
Jenny Sved, Executive Director of Teach PA, said:
“Today, more than 200 Jewish day school students from across Pennsylvania came to Harrisburg with a clear message: our children must be safe, and educational opportunity must remain within reach. Rising security costs and rising tuition are putting real pressure on families, and we appreciate lawmakers from both parties taking the time to engage.”
Sydney Altfield, CEO of Teach Coalition, said:
“The students and parents who came to Harrisburg today put a human face on issues often discussed only in budget terms. When security costs rise, and scholarship demand grows, Pennsylvania has an opportunity to respond with practical solutions that help families now.”
Etti Martel, Parent at Hillel Academy of Pittsburgh, said:
“Every parent deserves to send their child to school with confidence that they will be safe, supported, and able to focus on learning. For Jewish families today, security is not optional; it is essential. We came to Harrisburg to make sure schools have the resources they need so our children can walk through those doors each morning with peace of mind.”
About Teach PA
Teach PA, a member of Teach Coalition and an initiative of the Orthodox Union, advocates for government policies that support Jewish day schools and yeshivas across Pennsylvania. Through policy advocacy, research, and grassroots engagement, Teach PA works to expand educational opportunity, strengthen school security, and increase access to critical resources for nonpublic school students and families across the Commonwealth.
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