MAYOR AND SCHOOL DISTRICT OFFICIALS URGE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO BEGIN PHASE-IN OF COSTING-OUT REPORT FUNDING
Harrisburg, PA – Mayor Stephen R. Reed and Harrisburg School District administrators today urged the Pennsylvania General Assembly to support Governor Ed Rendell’s proposed 2008-2009 Education Budget that involves the phase-in of $2.6 billion in additional funding for the state’s public school systems over the next six years to help reduce school funding deficiencies identified by the PA General Assembly’s Costing-Out Report.
Reed said that under the Governor’s proposed plan, the Harrisburg School District would receive a 6.58% increase in state funding, or $2,485,602 in new monies, for the upcoming school year. The Governor’s education funding formula would also increase state funding to the Harrisburg School District by a total of 52%, or $17,623,396, over the next six years, the initial amount the state report indicated was the funding shortfall for City schools.
The Mayor noted that the formula used by the Commonwealth to determine Harrisburg’s funding increase has to be adjusted, however, so as to accommodate the nearly $10.5 million state funding shortfall of 2007-2008, which if factored in would mean an additional $1.3 million in state subsidy to the District.
The Mayor said the Governor’s six year Education Budget Plan reflects his commitment to bring all students up to grade-level in reading and math by the year 2014. He said that under the current system, the average student within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is being short-changed by over $2,400 in necessary education funding and that basic education is being underfunded by over $4 billion in the state.
Reed said that within the City’s schools, the state currently spends $7,893 per student per year. He said that under the state Costing-Out study, within six years that number should be $15,171 per student per year.
"The Governor has made education one of his highest priorities," said Reed. "His proposed plan would provide this and other school districts with the funding necessary to continue to enhance and advance the educational opportunities of each and every student."
"We strongly support the Governor’s proposed budget plan and encourage our area legislators to give support," said Reed.
"The issue at hand is not just equitable funding for educating our youngest generation. It is about Pennsylvania’s and America’s competitiveness in the global economy of this new century. Competitor nations are rising economically because of their high emphasis and investment in education. They are effectively competing for investment and jobs. For our state and nation to meet this challenge, maintain and improve our standard of living, and to meet the new economic challenges facing the world, a well-educated workforce for the future is an absolute. There is no substitute for proper funding of public education and the future of Pennsylvania shall be determined by the decisions to implement the Costing-Out study recommendations."
Results of the state’s Costing-Out Study, which was ordered by the Pennsylvania State Legislature, prompted the Governor to create his Education Budget Plan based upon what it really costs to educate every student so that he or she can meet the state’s academic standards. The proposed budget includes historic levels of investment for meeting goals ranging from establishing longer learning periods to class size reductions, the availability of pre-kindergarten and full-day kindergarten, and ongoing professional development for teachers and school leaders.
"The proposed budget plan offers the opportunity to not only stabilize and more equitably distribute school funding, but also to help beleaguered local taxpayers in the process," Reed said. "Governor Rendell’s proposed education budget ushers in the next phase of the state’s commitment to bringing all students up to their proper academic level by 2014.
"The budget is necessary to ensure that the Harrisburg School District and all districts throughout the state are providing a quality education to our students," said Reed. "Every student can learn and every student should have the full opportunity to succeed, and additional funding will help our students realize this."
The state legislature has until June 30th to enact the 2008-2009 state budget that covers the period of July 1, 2008 to June 30, 2009.
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