Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children President and CEO Joan Benso today made the following statement following House approval of legislation (House Bill 1552) that adopts the funding formula recommended last year by Pennsylvania’s bi-partisan Basic Education Funding Commission:
“For too long, Pennsylvania has needed a predictable, sustainable way to fund its public schools, and today’s vote is a historic step toward that goal. Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children supported the funding formula recommended by the Basic Education Funding Commission last June, and we are pleased to see it move to the governor’s desk.
“Of course, any formula – no matter how comprehensive – is only as effective as the money that goes into it. Looking ahead, we now need a state budget for fiscal 2016-17 that puts adequate funding behind a formula and helps drive out that funding in a way that helps ensure every child has the resources to succeed in the classroom.
“We are hopeful the governor and state lawmakers can now work together to continue to make significant annual investments in our schools over multiple years to close the adequacy gap that leaves too many children without the resources they need to learn.
“We look forward to continuing to work with policymakers and other interested parties to build on today’s action and help create an adequate and equitable system of funding Pennsylvania’s public schools for years to come.”