In a recent budget proposal, Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro suggested sending an additional $494 million to underfunded Pennsylvania school districts in an effort to close the “adequacy gap.” However, top Republican lawmakers are skeptical about allocating this amount, questioning the fairness of providing additional funds to only select districts out of the total 500 in the state.
Commonwealth Court had previously ruled that Pennsylvania’s education spending was inequitable, leading to discussions on how to address the funding shortfall. A commission came up with the concept of an “adequacy target” to set a baseline for per-student spending based on various factors like poverty and level of English proficiency.
Acting Secretary of Education Carrie Rowe emphasized that the adequacy formula was established by the legislature and meant to drive funds to schools most in need. Republicans, including State Senate Majority Leader Joe Pittman, criticized the report that created the adequacy target and questioned the need for additional funding if schools are educating fewer students.
Public education advocates see last year’s nearly $500 million investment as a step towards closing the $4.5 billion gap but warn that more action is needed. Shapiro’s proposed budget includes smaller increases for basic and special education compared to previous years.
Lawmakers must reach a budget agreement by June 30, with concerns raised about the lack of sufficient funding for districts facing rising costs. Failure to adequately fund education could result in more legal action, similar to the previous lawsuit that led to the adequacy funding discussions.
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