It was with growing frustration that I read a recent Associated Press story detailing how cuts in state aid for public schools hit Pennsylvania’s poorer school districts the hardest, slashing nearly three times as many dollars in aid per student compared with wealthier districts.
Gov. Tom Corbett and the legislature cut $860 million, or 16 percent, from public schools. This hurt all schools, but if you are not fortunate enough to live in a wealthy area, the governor’s cuts are even more devastating. The AP’s analysis of state data shows the poorest 150 school districts, or 30 percent of the state’s total, lost $581 per student. The wealthiest 150 school districts lost $214 per student. The hardest-hit districts lost more than 10 times the money per student as some other districts. Even though they need the funding the most, the governor chose to ignore the needs of low-income areas. Does this make sense to you?
In my school district, the budget cuts mean a loss of $647,756.
Until now, Pennsylvania students performing at or above grade level on state tests increased as state funding for public schools increased. Now, these disproportionate budget cuts threaten to stop this progress. Shortchanging students who are most in need of resources and forcing already-strapped local taxpayers to fill the gap is no way to govern.
It’s time for the governor to work on real school funding solutions that benefit all students. Undoing the academic gains of the last few years does not represent real reform.
Sincerely,
Sue Lemmo
President, Curwensville Area Education Association – PSEA