110833841
To the Editor:
Each year we revisit our education funding crisis, but we have yet to come up with a comprehensive solution. The Pennsylvania Constitution states that “[t]he General Assembly shall provide for the maintenance and support of a thorough and efficient system of public education to serve the needs of the Commonwealth.” Governor [Tom] Corbett and the General Assembly have a legal and moral obligation to fully fund an education system that provides a quality learning experience for all children throughout the Commonwealth. In order to make this a reality, the state must adopt a school funding formula that ensures that individual school districts receive the resources they need to properly educate our children.
According to an Education Law Center report advocating for a data-driven education funding formula, in 2010 Pennsylvania contributed only 35.8 percent of the funding for our education system, ranking our Commonwealth as the 10th lowest state in the country in this regard. The report highlights Pennsylvania as one of the only states that does not use an education funding formula to meet the different needs of individual school districts.
This limited approach must change. When considering policy options, we should review the findings of the Rendell Administration’s ’07 Costing-Out Study that evaluated the unique characteristics of individual Commonwealth school districts and concluded that we need to strategically invest billions more to ensure our young people have the opportunity to succeed. As a former state representative, I understand the funding formula recommended by the study involved sensible, targeted investments based on real data such as achievement, socioeconomics, classroom size, language barriers and other important factors. It is time that Corbett and our state legislators implement a deliberate funding formula that provides adequate resources for all school districts.
In Philadelphia, we have moved to increase several taxes, closed schools and laid off scores of school employees to address the School District of Philadelphia’s $300 million funding gap. It is unrealistic for the state to assume Philadelphia can endure more local tax increases, closings and layoffs to make up for the lack of state funding, especially while the city is working hard to become more business friendly and many residents are set to experience huge property tax increases this winter with the implementation of the AVI.
The state must step up and address our education crisis by first providing adequate funding for our schools and second, by implementing a funding formula, as the center recommends, that is tailored to the individual needs of different districts, classrooms and students. If the state fails to act now, we will be in the same position next year, sacrificing important services and laying off vital school employees.
Adequate education funding should not be a political football for the Democrats and Republicans; it’s a moral issue. Every child is entitled to a quality education and the government is responsible for funding and implementing that system. Parental responsibility is necessary for academic success, but no amount of parental involvement will guarantee it without the resources necessary to create an environment in which our students can learn. Corbett should act as a bold leader by implementing a funding formula that will address our crisis and serve as an investment in the future of our regional economy.
2nd District Councilman Kenyatta Johnson
South Philadelphia
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