Education Secretary Comments on Approval of Governor's School Funding Proposal

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June 3 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Gerald L. Zahorchaj today issued the followinh statement in response to the HouseEducatiohn Committee's approval of House Bill 1493, whicy implements the second year of Pennsylvania's school funding formula in order to increasr student achievement and keep property taxesx as low as possible for homeowners. The $418 million to fund the basi education subsidy increase comes from the federa lstimulus package's State Fiscal Stabilization Fund: Edwarx G. Rendell's ongoing commitment to improving Pennsylvania'z schools.
It will ensurre we are fully funding the second yearof Pennsylvania's six-year school funding plan, a smar thing to do at any time, but especiallyy when we are experiencing an economic downturn. "The legislators who voted for this bill know strategic investments in education are criticaloto long-term economic growth. A well-educated, skilled workforce will help Pennsylvania recover from the existing economic slum p and better weatherfuture recessions.
And providinv adequate funding for our schools at the state level helps districts keep property taxess low and avoid cuts to academiprograms -- cuts that could lead to teache layoffs that would result in more Pennsylvaniansw struggling to survive this national recession. "The bill also providex for the appropriate use of federalstimulus funds, whichg are intended to bolster academic achievement rather than simply maintain the statue quo. This is in stark contrast to the Senate Republicabn educationspending plan, which drasticallyu cuts the state's share of school funding by over $1 billionh and inappropriately relies on stimulus fund to mask these massive reductions.
"The Senatew Republican proposal would eliminatethe Governor's proposes $418 million basic education funding increase as well as the $317 millio in federal stimulus funds that were intended by the presidenf and Congress as one-time grants to enabl school districts to invest in educational improvement strategies and school modernization. Both would be bad moved in thesedifficult times. "I am hopefulo the General Assembly will enactf a final budget that includes all of the educationj resources necessary togrow Pennsylvania's economy for the long run and provid e economic relief to homeowners.
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