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School Funding Reform in Pennsylvania June 2007 Update

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School Funding Reform in Pennsylvania June 2007 Update

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    3. Our mission To help create a state finance system that provides all children with the resources needed for an excellent public education. We believe that access to a quality education is a fundamental right of every child.

    4. Developed champions for school funding reform Produced publications and other advocacy tools Met with community members, elected officials, and news media to raise awareness Supported the approval and funding by the General Assembly of a comprehensive Costing-Out/Adequacy Study in the 2006-2007 state budget

    5. PA public schools receive their funding from 4 main sources:

    8. Funding Gaps Most districts spend between $9,000 and $13,000/student Some high-spending districts spend 2 or 3 times the amount per child that other districts spend

    9. The difference between spending $10,000 and $11,000 per student equals an opportunity gap of:

    11. 2004-05 PSSA results The 50 districts with the highest PSSA passing rate spent $2,000 more per student than the statewide average. Overall PSSA passing rate in these districts is 81%, compared to 42% in the lowest performing districts.

    12. Money is needed to provide: manageable class size, safe buildings, challenging curricula, enrichment classes, experienced and qualified teachers, and other student supports.

    14. No equity Because of PA’s heavy reliance on local revenue, the education of students in different districts is supported by vastly different funding levels. No adequacy Spending in most districts is not adequate to allow all students to meet new state standards. The system is broken! Funding levels are set each year based on politics and old data, not on educational needs.

    15. Why do we need a new funding system in PA?

    16. The current state education funding system in PA

    17. An improved state education funding system in PA

    19. What is a Costing-Out/Adequacy Study? The study will define the components of a “quality public education” for all students in PA (including ELL, students in poverty, students with disabilities) and then determine what it costs to ensure that all students have access to such an education. How are these studies done? Successful Schools Method Professional Judgment Panels Costing-Out Studies have already been done in over 40 other states.

    20. PA’s Costing-Out / Adequacy Study is underway. STEPS FOR CONDUCTING THE STUDY: Authorized by the Governor and General Assembly in the 2006-2007 state budget. (June 2006) State Board of Education issued an RFP for companies to conduct the study. (Oct 2006) State Board of Education hired a company – Augenblick, Palaich, and Associates - from that pool. (Dec 2006) Company will conduct the study using a combination of the Successful Schools Method and Professional Judgment Panels. Initial results expected May 2007; final results 6 months later. Independent Commission for possible legislative action on the results.

    21. STAY INFORMED! Check out the websites of ELC, EPLC, and GSPA and other resources for updates and more information (see later slides). Follow your local news media’s coverage of school funding issues.

    22. SPREAD THE WORD! Attend meetings or events in your area. Convene a meeting of stakeholders in your community. Write to your local legislators encouraging them to support the study and statewide education finance reform. Contact your local news media. Provide them with background info from our website. (If you need contact info for your local paper, call or write ELC.)

    23. SHARE YOUR STORIES! Tell ELC or your local legislators/media what it’s like to work or go to school in an underfunded district. Evidence is key! Submit stories to stories@elc-pa.org

    24. Pennsylvania Education Funding Reform Campaign ELC (www.elc-pa.org) EPLC (www.eplc.org) GSPA (www.goodschoolspa.org) Costing-Out/Adequacy Studies Costing-Out Key Facts (GSPA) http://www.goodschoolspa.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=cms.viewPage&organization_id=8§ion_id=71&page_id=2746 National ACCESS Network (Teachers College, Columbia U.) http://www.schoolfunding.info/policy/CostingOut/overview.php3

    25. School Finance and the Achievement Gap in PA School Finances 101 (PDE) http://www.pde.state.pa.us/schoolfinance101/site/default.asp?k12_financesNav=|4229| The PA School Finance Primer (EPLC) http://www.eplc.org/reports.html Shortchanging Our Children: Opportunity Gaps in PA (ELC) http://www.elc-pa.org/funding/publications.html School Funding Briefing (GSPA) http://www.goodschoolspa.prg/index.cfm?fuseaction=cms.viewPage§ion_id=99&page_id=743

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