Issue
Brief
Education Funding
For the past two years the
Pennsylvania General Assembly has
taken important steps towards
correcting the insufficient and
inequitable statewide funding system
for elementary and secondary
education. Continuing to make
progress on equitable education
funding is crucial to end cycles of
hunger and poverty that perpetuate
in communities all across
Pennsylvania.
Did you know that in Pennsylvania…?
·
A study commissioned by the General
Assembly in 2006 and released in
2007 found an average funding gap
(known as the “adequacy gap”) of
$2,414 per student between what is
being spent and what is needed for
all students to meet state standards
of achievement.
·
Thanks to the new formula enacted in
2008, districts now receive more
state money if they have high
percentages of students living in
poverty and students for whom
English is a second language,
recognizing that these students cost
more to educate.
·
These recent increased investments
have resulted in 2,000 more students
in pre-K, 6,300 students in smaller
classes, and 43,000 students
benefiting from tutoring.
What are the Consequences of
Inadequate and Inequitable Education
Funding?
Historically, Pennsylvania’s school
financing has been heavily dependent
on local wealth. Therefore, the
quality of educational opportunities
for children varied widely from
district to district. Adequate
funding for each and every student
will ensure that all of
Pennsylvania’s children are prepared
for careers that will allow them to
support their families. A lack of
investment in state dollars will
mean that wealthier districts will
continue to make progress while
districts facing significant
challenges will fall behind.
What has the ELCA said about
Education?
The ELCA Churchwide Assembly passed
a social statement entitled “Our
Calling in Education” in 2007 that
stated:
“The belief that all are created in
God’s image, all have equal worth
and dignity and should be treated
accordingly stands behind our strong
support for our society’s
expectation that all young people
have equitable access to high
quality schools. All
students are entitled to good
schools; and when they receive a
high quality education, society
benefits.”
ELCA Social Statement: “Our Calling in
Education” cont.)
Calling us away from the status quo it
reminds us that “the disturbing reality
persists that too many young people do
not have access to good public schools.
This reality is most pervasive in poor
communities, especially where poverty is
intertwined with a history of racism and
discrimination…”
What is LAMPa asking Advocates to do:
Visit, call, write, and/or e-mail your
State Representative and State Senator
to let them know how important funding
for public education is to you.
Specifically, you are encouraged to ask
them to:
Support a basic education funding
increase of $354 million for the 2010-11
fiscal year, so as to keep making
progress towards the 2014 funding goal.
These state funds would be a restoration
of cuts made last year, and will result
in state funding at the 2008-2009
level. (see chart below)
An investment of this magnitude with
ensure that we continue the progress
that has been made over the past two
years. The formula adopted on 2008
depends on specific levels of funding.
Getting as close to those levels as
possible allows for the most equitable
distribution.
April 2010
