This week the Pennsylvania Association of School Administrators (PASA) and Pennsylvania Association of School Business Officials (PASBO) released their annual survey of Pennsylvania’s public schools. This report demonstrates what parents and community members who care about public school students already know too well: the outlook for many of PA’s public school students is bleak if state lawmakers continue to ignore the school funding crisis.

The survey includes districts representing every county in PA and found that if the state government doesn’t take immediate action to address PA’s school funding crisis, in 2016-2017:

• 50% of districts plan to cut academic programs,
• 46% of districts will cut staff,
• 34% will increase class sizes,
• 85% will raise local taxes, and
• Over 60% of school districts will raise local taxes for the 7th consecutive year.

Because the Commonwealth ranks a shameful 46th of 50 states in the nation for state support of K-12 education, schools in poor communities will be most impacted. These schools are simply unable generate adequate revenue to provide students with the educational opportunities they both need and deserve.

We must speak up loudly this budget season so that state lawmakers cannot deny the damage they will continue to inflict on PA’s public school students if they fail to pass a budget with a significant funding increase for K-12 schools.

Will you share your school’s story and to demonstrate how PA’s school funding crisis is hurting our students?

During budget season, we will share your stories (using only your first name and the name of your school district) on social media and our website in order to demonstrate the damage being inflicted on PA’s public school students as a result of the General Assembly’s failure to adequately fund our schools.

Unfortunately, it is sad reality that some lawmakers, many of whom are in leadership positions, remain fiercely opposed to providing adequate funding to K-12 schools. Some even believe that schools have plenty of money, are misspending their funding, and should continue to make more cuts.

Please share what is happening in your school district HERE. 

Lawmakers who truly care about Pennsylvania’s children and their public schools must find the courage to stand up to their colleagues in the General Assembly who do not.  They must dig deep and find the courage to pass a responsible budget in 2016-2017 that addresses the state’s structural deficit and contains adequate new revenue to fund education and other critical programs.

Lawmakers must put aside partisan politics, support our children, and pass a budget that will allocate a new $400 million investment in K-12 schools through the fair funding formula in 2016-2017. They must take a step toward meeting our Constitutional responsibility, our economic imperative, and our moral obligation to provide every child access to necessary educational opportunities.

We will email early next week with a budget update, and please prepare for a Call to Action Day for education soon!