• Investing
  • Stock
Round Table Thoughts
  • Economy
  • Editor’s Pick
Home Economy Pennsylvania lawmakers continue to debate education funding as budget negotiations continue
Economy

Pennsylvania lawmakers continue to debate education funding as budget negotiations continue

by July 13, 2023
by July 13, 2023 0 comment
Share
0
FacebookTwitterPinterestWhatsapp

A court’s ruling earlier this year that the way Pennsylvania funds public schools is unconstitutional helped make education spending one of the thorniest issues in state budget negotiations.

Along with a partisan divide over spending taxpayer money to help students attend private and religious schools, education funding has left the state’s 2023-24 spending plan incomplete.

The state government is approaching a second week without full spending authority, with the final OK on a $45 billion spending plan stymied over a dispute about creating a $100 million program to allocate state subsidies for students in the lowest performing districts to attend private or religious schools.

Complicating matters is the judge’s ruling, which ordered the Legislature and governor to fix the system but with no guidance about how — or how quickly — it should be done.

The budget still in limbo includes about $800 million for public education, significantly less than what Democrats wanted. The state’s poorest districts will split $100 million through a program designed to help them close some of the gap between them and more affluent districts.

‘Schools were unconstitutionally underfunded last year, this year, and they will be unconstitutionally underfunded next year,’ said Dan Urevick-Ackelsberg, senior attorney for Public Information Law Center, which successfully pursued the school funding case.

Education advocates were hoping to see a significant down payment — about $2 billion — to start addressing the system’s shortcomings, as well as a plan to overhaul how the state funds its schools. The lawyers hoped to see it as planning begins for the next fiscal year.

‘We dug a hole for a number of years. It’s going to take us a number of years to dig out,’ Urevick-Ackelsberg said.

Some districts are ‘deeply in the hole, thousands of dollars per pupil short of where they need to be,’ and the $100-million split won’t get at the real change needed, said Bruce Baker, a University of Miami education professor who researches public school financing.

In other states with similar court rulings, action has not always been swift. But some states have managed to make sustained investments, said Maura McInerney, legal director for the Education Law Center, which also was involved in the funding lawsuit.

‘I think it takes a lot of political will and leadership,’ she said. ‘There is no reason to wait here.’

Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro cautioned it would take time, and he said fully funding public schools was a priority. But he also voiced his support behind the Republican-controlled Senate’s school voucher program. And even if the vouchers don’t pass this cycle, the budget still gives increases for private education through a tax credit that largely benefits private schools.

House Republicans described the vouchers as a potential solution to the court’s decision, saying that the court left reform open to a variety of paths.

The voucher would give up to $10,000 to families to use for private school. An eligible student must attend one of the state’s 15% lowest-performing schools, based on standardized test scores, and come from a family that makes under 250% of the federal poverty level, or $75,000 for a family of four.

‘Its inclusion as part of this budget would lead to the most ambitious and beneficial school reform measure in decades,’ Minority Leader Rep. Bryan Cutler, R-Lancaster, said in a statement.

Cutler and the House Republicans took a lead role in defending the school funding case, litigating it for years before the judge ruled against their side.

Increasing public education funding alone ‘will leave many Pennsylvania students trapped in failing schools,’ Cutler said.

While Shapiro said he would use his line-item veto to kill the voucher program to keep from hitting an impasse last week, he pushed House Democratic leadership to considering alternatives, like vouchers and the tax credit program while working to reach constitutional compliance.

Even with that promise, Senate Republicans have called on Shapiro to sign the budget bill without nixing the program. They’re not without some leverage.

The chamber has adjourned until September, with key pieces of the budget unresolved. There is still legislation needed to direct how the money in the budget can be spent — including for some of Shapiro’s and House Democrats’ priorities.

<!–>

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS

–>

You Might Also Like
  • Ex-FBI official who shut down Hunter Biden lines of investigation violated Hatch Act with anti-Trump posts
  • Israeli airstrike kills 2 people deep inside Lebanon, Hezbollah responds with 60 rockets
  • Israel vs. Hamas: There’s only one thing Israel must do now to Hamas
  • Alexei Navalny’s wife has 5 ominous words for Putin ahead of his inauguration
Share
0
FacebookTwitterPinterestWhatsapp

previous post
Key House Freedom Caucus member predicts McCarthy to break promise on omnibus bill
next post
GOP senators probe DHS Sec. Mayorkas on use of personal email for official business: ‘Serious concerns’

You may also like

Religious, human rights groups urge Blinken to punish Nigeria over...

January 15, 2024

Ned Price stepping down as State Department spokesman

March 8, 2023

Congress pushes aggressive use of AI in the federal government,...

June 30, 2023

Texas sends migrants to Naval Observatory near VP Harris’ home,...

May 15, 2023

Chemical abortion harms women. Supreme Court can’t ignore them

December 23, 2023

After Michigan primary, Democrats watch for Biden to thread the...

March 8, 2024

A Birthday No One Celebrates

December 6, 2022

Biden White House signals pessimism about election in surprising way

April 30, 2024

Tim Scott bill requires app stores to show country of...

May 30, 2023

What’s ailing The Democrats? Dr. Siegel gives his diagnosis on...

February 18, 2023

    Stay updated with the latest news, exclusive offers, and special promotions. Sign up now and be the first to know! As a member, you'll receive curated content, insider tips, and invitations to exclusive events. Don't miss out on being part of something special.


    By opting in you agree to receive emails from us and our affiliates. Your information is secure and your privacy is protected.

    Recent Posts

    • Week Ahead: NIFTY Stays In A Defined Range; Moving Past This Level Crucial For Resumption Of Upmove

      May 31, 2025
    • Breakouts, Momentum & Moving Averages: 10 Must-See Stock Charts Right Now

      May 31, 2025
    • Leadership Rotation Could Confirm Corrective Phase

      May 30, 2025
    • Run Your Stock Portfolio Like a Pro Sports Team

      May 30, 2025
    • U.S. foreign tax bill sends jitters across Wall Street

      May 30, 2025

    Popular Posts

    • 1

      Trump-era China sanctions ended by Biden may be...

      June 27, 2024 2,765 views
    • 2

      Walz’s honeymoon with China gets fresh scrutiny as...

      August 9, 2024 2,472 views
    • 3

      Biden appointee played key role in recruiting Chinese...

      June 25, 2024 2,451 views
    • 4

      Shein’s global ambitions leaves some cybersecurity experts fearful...

      July 10, 2024 2,432 views
    • 5

      Harris VP pick spent years promoting research facility...

      August 29, 2024 2,308 views

    Categories

    • Economy (7,009)
    • Editor's Pick (2,106)
    • Investing (538)
    • Stock (2,582)

    Popular Posts

    • 1

      Trump-era China sanctions ended by Biden may be revived under new House GOP bill

      June 27, 2024
    • 2

      Walz’s honeymoon with China gets fresh scrutiny as Harris camp blasts ‘lying’ critics

      August 9, 2024
    • 3

      Biden appointee played key role in recruiting Chinese businesses to Delaware: ‘Longtime friends’

      June 25, 2024
    • 4

      Shein’s global ambitions leaves some cybersecurity experts fearful of Chinese spy threats

      July 10, 2024
    • 5

      Harris VP pick spent years promoting research facility that collaborated with ‘Chinese military company’

      August 29, 2024

    Latest News

    • Week Ahead: NIFTY Stays In A Defined Range; Moving Past...

      May 31, 2025
    • Breakouts, Momentum & Moving Averages: 10 Must-See Stock Charts Right...

      May 31, 2025
    • Leadership Rotation Could Confirm Corrective Phase

      May 30, 2025

    Categories

    • Economy (7,009)
    • Editor's Pick (2,106)
    • Investing (538)
    • Stock (2,582)

    Disclaimer: RoundTableThoughts.com, its managers, its employees, and assigns (collectively “The Company”) do not make any guarantee or warranty about what is advertised above. Information provided by this website is for research purposes only and should not be considered as personalized financial advice. The Company is not affiliated with, nor does it receive compensation from, any specific security. The Company is not registered or licensed by any governing body in any jurisdiction to give investing advice or provide investment recommendation. Any investments recommended here should be taken into consideration only after consulting with your investment advisor and after reviewing the prospectus or financial statements of the company.

    Copyright © 2024 RoundTableThoughts.com. All Rights Reserved.

    Round Table Thoughts
    • Investing
    • Stock
    Round Table Thoughts
    • Economy
    • Editor’s Pick

    Read alsox

    Stock Trading Strategies: A Complete Guide...

    October 23, 2024

    Karine Jean-Pierre dodges question on Lori...

    March 2, 2023

    Hawaii to make universal preschool available...

    January 18, 2023
    Sign In

    Keep me signed in until I sign out

    Forgot your password?

    Password Recovery

    A new password will be emailed to you.

    Have received a new password? Login here