Update on Education Funding

Posted by on October 31, 2003

In the early hours of October 21, 2003, Pennsylvania?s House of Representatives took extraordinary steps toward investing substantial new dollars in our children?s education. By a 104-95 vote, the House agreed to raise the state?s income tax to boost education funding, as well as close the budget deficit.

In addition to making a cost of living increase in the basic education subsidy, the measure creates a structure that targets most of an additional $250 million to students struggling to reach higher standards of educational achievement.

Education Funding:
The House measure would increase funding for public schools by $450 million, allocated in the following ways:
? The basic education subsidy to the state’s 501 school districts would increase by $105 million.
? Special education funding would increase by $45.5 million.
? $200 million in block grants would fund proven education practices long advocated by Good Schools Pennsylvania, with local districts determining which programs to implement.
? Another $34 million would be earmarked for tutoring programs for students that aren?t meeting state standards of proficiency.
? $15 million would go to expand the federally-funded Head Start preschool programs for needy children.

A complete summary of the bill passed by the House will be posted on the Good Schools PA website at <a href="http://www.goodschoolspa.org">http://www.goodschoolspa.org</a>.