The PennZone

Governor Tom Wolf today joined students, educators and elected officials in the Aliquippa School District in Beaver County to celebrate the administration's historic $3.7 billion investment in public education over the past eight years.

"While this record amount of education funding is a necessary step forward and one worthy of celebration, we still have a long way to go before education in Pennsylvania is fully and fairly funded" Governor Wolf said. "Let's use this as a stepping stone to continue our fight for full, fair funding for all schools in Pennsylvania."

This year's budget alone includes a record $1.8 billion in education investments.

Speaking at Aliquippa High School's Black Box Theater today, Governor Wolf recalled that proper funding for education was his top priority when he took office in 2015. This year, that priority resulted in:

• $525 million increase through the Fair Funding Formula. On average Pennsylvania schools will see their funding increase by 8 percent.
• $225 million increase for Level Up to provide targeted support to the 100 most in-need school districts, ensuring that every child in Pennsylvania has the opportunity to thrive and succeed through equal access to a high-quality education no matter their zip code.
• $100 million increase for Special Education.
• $79 million increase for Early Education through Pre-K Counts and Head Start.
• $220 million for public higher education.

The investment in education includes $850 million in recurring funding to allow school districts to invest in student learning while simultaneously cutting local property taxes.

More on The PennZone

• New TROP2 Research Breakthrough Strengthens REQORSA® Gene Therapy Story as Roche Collaboration Advances Precision Lung Cancer Treatment: Genprex, Inc
• Rent a Truck or Hire Movers? New Data Shows Fuel Now Makes Up to 40% of DIY Moving Costs
• TrueNorth Wellness Services Expands Rural Behavioral Health Care in Fulton County with Technology
• Club Wyndham Research Identifies the "Holiday Rewind Effect": 93% of Parents Recreate Their Own Childhood Holidays for Their Kids
• IEI Rugged IP66 Panel PC Brings Real-Time Visibility to Heavy-Duty Mining Fleets

"Whether in Beaver County or across the commonwealth, the governor's commitment to funding education has been unwavering," state Rep. Robert Matzie said. "I am proud to stand with him, and even more proud to have worked with him, in support of his unprecedented investments in our children."

Over the eight-year course of the administration, funding for pre-K through 12^th grade has increased $2.7 billion, including:

• Basic education: $1.86 billion
• Special education: $290 million
• Educational access: $23 million
• Early childhood education: $254 million, including $49 million for Head Start and $205 million for Pre-K Counts.
• Early intervention (PDE): $109 million
• Career and technical education: $46 million

In addition to historic funding investments in new and existing education programs, the Wolf administration has:

• Modernized standards for science education.
• Invested more than $130 million in School Safety Grants to make schools and school communities safer.
• Reduced the age when students must start school to 6 and raised the high school dropout age to 18.
• Launched the first-of-its-kind "It's On Us PA" Campus Sexual Assault Prevention initiative to combat sexual assault and make colleges and universities safer.

Gov. Wolf has served for two terms as a leader consistently at work for the people of Pennsylvania. Learn more about how his Priorities for Pennsylvania have fueled the commonwealth's comeback, leaving Pennsylvania in a much better place than when he arrived.

More on The PennZone

• FDA Approval; Major Milestone for Preservative-Free Ketamine Ahead of FDA Goal Date for Treatment of Suicidal Depression by NRx Pharmaceuticals, Inc
• Building a Technology Powerhouse-From AI Drones and Global Acquisitions to Defense, Enterprise Software and the Future of Autonomous Operations $ZENA
• Shelter Structures America backs MATRA Second Life Project to turn retired tent vinyl into homes for displaced families
• P-Wave Press Announces Becoming Dad: Reflections for New Fathers by L. A. Davenport
• Logicraft Launches FuelDeck™, AI That Turns Aviation Fuel Tickets Into One Traceable Ledger

SHARE Email Facebook Twitter

Filed Under: Government, State

---

Show All News | Disclaimer | Report Violation