Montgomery County school officials and students on Friday called on the state Legislature to pass Gov. Josh Shapiro's education funding proposal that would inject cash into cash-strapped school districts.
“For too long, underfunding from the state has created a patchwork of some great opportunities for students, but many opportunities have been lost for students across the county, and some “Students lack basic necessities and many residents pay exorbitant property taxes,” he said. Priyanka Reyes Kaula is director of K-12 education policy at Children First, a nonprofit child welfare organization that advocates for equitable school funding. “This year, a solution is finally on the table.”
The press conference, held at the Montgomery County Intermediate Unit in Norristown, was attended by several school officials and students from low-income Montgomery County school districts and announced $1.1 billion, or 14% of funding, for public schools. spoke about the innovative nature of Shapiro's education funding proposal. $872 million went to low-income school districts such as Pottstown and Norristown.
Pottstown High School senior Elizabeth Andedeji said, “Students may be denied the opportunity to succeed now or in the future because of the color of their skin or where they live.” She said, “With the right funding and resources, our students can reach incredible heights.”
“Please fund our schools so that all students have the resources they need to succeed,” said Jeremiah McCray, Norristown Regional High School. “With funding, students will be able to reach their full potential.”
“Public school students are frequently exposed to different cultures, ethnicities, and perspectives,” said Nia Kennedy, a senior at Springfield Township High School. “Public schools frequently collaborate with neighborhoods through partnerships, events, and initiatives that help children develop a sense of community and civic duty. Members of Congress, more funding for Pennsylvania’s public schools. Please help approve.”
Pottstown School District Superintendent Steven Rodriguez said recent funding has allowed the district to increase teacher compensation, hire additional school counselors and purchase updated curriculum services.
“This is proof of what can happen when we properly and equitably fund our schools,” Rodriguez said. “Imagine the results for both our communities and the federal economy when our public schools are fully funded.”
Norristown Area School District Superintendent Christopher Dormer echoed Rodriguez's sentiments, saying recent funding increases to Norristown have allowed the district to keep property taxes flat and hire 80 additional employees. He said that he credited this with improving his grades in mathematics in elementary and junior high schools. level.
“If the current budget is passed, the Norristown Area School District is proposing 59 additional staff positions and a fourth consecutive year of tax savings,” Dormer said. “Increased state funding is just the right thing for school districts like Norristown, which for too long have had to make sacrifices that we know are not in the best interest of our students, staff, families, and community. It’s a game-changer.”
Dormer added that Shapiro's funding proposal would allow the district to both renovate and modernize aging facilities, with prices exceeding $180 million and $330 million, respectively.
“If the Legislature agrees to the budget, the Norristown Area School District will be able to pay for the full amount and we won't have to raise taxes a single dollar,” Dormer said. “This is about giving kids an opportunity to come to school every day and be inspired and excited to be the best version of themselves, because they’re in a space where it’s easier for them to do that.”
Sudderton Area School District Superintendent Frank Gallagher praised the cyber charter tuition reforms proposed as part of Shapiro's plan. The proposal would cap tuition payments at $8,000 and create a tiered payment formula to reflect the actual cost of services.
Gallagher criticized cyber charter schools for charging districts “exorbitant fees,” which often go toward “huge” advertising budgets and executive salaries, and said the state's largest cyber charter schools will be closed starting in 2021. It noted that it reported a profit of $122 million in the 2022 academic year.
“This is not how public schools should be run, but cyber charters are about making money,” Gallagher said. “They have become publicly funded private schools, almost universally the ones with the lowest student performance. We have paid more for our worst outcomes.
“Imagine what you could do with these savings,” Gallagher continued. “We will hire additional staff, strengthen our facilities, increase training, support local taxpayers, and support an education system that is working and truly at the heart of our communities.”
Montgomery County School District will receive an additional $43 million in funding, including a $30 million increase in basic education funding and $13 million in savings from cyber charter spending reforms. The proposal also includes annual funding increases over seven years. The increase would be funded in part by the state's $14 billion surplus.
The budget follows a federal court ruling that Pennsylvania's public education funding system is unconstitutional. According to the Public Interest Law Center, a plaintiff in the lawsuit, Pennsylvania's public schools are underfunded by $5.4 billion, and 86 percent of Pennsylvania students attend underfunded schools. The problem is largely due to states allocating funding based on outdated enrollment data and relying on property taxes to fund education.
Pennsylvania currently has the largest disparity in funding between wealthy and poor school districts in the country, with the wealthiest districts spending 33% more per student than the poorest, according to PA Schools Work. Nationally, Pennsylvania ranks 45th in state education funding, with the state paying about one-third of the cost.
MCIU Secretary General Regina concluded the meeting on an optimistic note, noting bipartisan support for fair school funding.
“As we move forward and do what we know is a fundamental right and the simple right thing to do, which is to ensure that children attend public schools no matter where they live in the commonwealth, “There is great hope that there will be bipartisan support to make this possible and that it is adequately funded,” the chairman said. “Let’s pass this budget and make real changes in the lives of schools, students, and communities across Montgomery County.”
The deadline to pass the 2024-2025 state budget is June 30.
