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Governor Ups Education Budget to $418 Million
Gov. Ed Rendell wants to use $418 million in federal economic stimulus dollars for the basic education subsidy in 2009-2010. The new education funding plan will increase the Governor’s initial proposal for basic education subsidy by $118 million, allow the state to stay on schedule with phasing-in the new school funding formula adopted in July over six years, and provide full funding for the second year of the phase-in. Rendell initially proposed increasing basic education by $300 million in state dollars; this state money now will be redirected to other budgetary needs. Education Secretary Gerald Zahorchak discussed the Governor’s revised funding plan and other education initiatives before the legislative Appropriations Committees this week.
On Wednesday, Zahorchak told members of the House Appropriations Committee that Rendell plans to use $418 million in stimulus funds for basic education subsidy in 2009-2010 and $737 million in stimulus funds for the subsidy in 2010-2011. Rep. Mario Civera (R-Delaware) raised concerns about the Commonwealth’s ability to sustain funding at these levels in three years when stimulus funds are gone if the state’s economy has not recovered. Zahorchak said the funds are necessary to keep pace with meeting districts’ adequacy funding targets and to help school boards act responsibly and not turn to local taxpayers to fulfill this need. For an overview of how federal stimulus funds will be used in Pennsylvania, visit this new website launched by the Governor’s office: www.Recovery.Pa.gov.
Zahorchak faced questions from legislators regarding the Governor’s plan to close the Scranton School for the Deaf and the Scotland School for Veterans’ Children, as well as plans to provide college tuition relief by legalizing video poker, institute standard end of course exams, explore school district consolidation, and temporarily shutter the Governor’s Schools of Excellence.
Zahorchak said the key question surrounding the Scranton School is whether the best allocation of resources is for the Commonwealth to operate the school and that in closing it Pennsylvania would join 17 other states that no longer directly operate a school for the deaf. The Education Secretary said the school faces about $70 million in facilities needs, and that student services could still be provided in the Scranton region without the state’s direct involvement. However, in closing the Scotland School for Veterans’ Children, students would have to return to their home districts.
Legislators asked for details on the Governor’s proposal to provide tuition relief to students attending community colleges and state-owned universities by legalizing a limited number of video poker machines at private bars and clubs. They also questioned whether the program realistically can be up and running by the projected September start date. Zahorchak said qualifying students would be identified by PHEAA through the state’s current financial aid application process and that the state can connect the new video poke machines through its current centralized lottery system for efficiency in collection and monitoring. It’s anticipated that the new revenue stream would provide $124 million in grants next year and $550 million in grants in four years when it is fully implemented. Draft legislation on the initiative will be available in a week.
Members of the Appropriations Committee also questioned whether this is the right time to spend state dollars to develop standard end of course exams given the state’s budget shortfall. Zahorchak said the exams are part of a larger system of curriculum, diagnostics and other measures designed to support student achievement and that the state should set expectations for student success.
Zahorchak also said the state is working with leaders of the Governor’s Schools of Excellence to discuss plans for this summer and that the Department of Education is open to leveraging private funds to keep these schools open. Finally, in response to questions posed by legislators, Zahorchak said the Administration will soon introduce legislation proposing changes to cyber charter school funding and that it will continue to pursue expanding articulation agreements for students transferring credits between colleges.
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