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Bethlehem (January 23, 2024) – Senator Lisa Boscola announced today that she has secured an additional $1 million for the Bethlehem Area School District through the Ready to Learn Block Grant.
“The Ready to Learn Block Grant is providing critical resources to school districts across Pennsylvania and this additional $1 million to the Bethlehem Area School District will benefit the educational opportunities for its students,” Boscola stated. “This funding is critically important this year because BASD should have received Level Up funding, which was left out of the final budget. While not recurrent revenue it will help minimize the loss for this tax year. And, it remains my goal of continuing to advocate in Harrisburg for the amount of funding Bethlehem Area School District and all the school districts I represent are entitled to.”
“The Bethlehem Area School District is very thankful for Senator Boscola’s hard work in securing an additional $1 million in Ready-to-Learn Block Grant funding to support of our schools,” said Dr. Jack P. Silva, Superintendent of the Bethlehem Area School District. “The funding will be of great benefit to our students and teachers, as well as support local citizens who too often pick up the cost of inadequate state support of our school district. We are #BASDproud to have Senator Boscola fighting for us in Harrisburg.”
The purpose of the Ready to Learn Block Grant is to enhance learning opportunities for students and provide resources for schools to innovate at the local level. The Commonwealth’s approved 2023-2024 budget allocated $295 million to Ready to Learn Block grants and the Fiscal Code approved in December 2023 set the formula for the distribution to school districts in the Commonwealth.
Under the formula, Bethlehem Area School District was slated to be awarded $1,797,733. Senator Boscola’s efforts to secure the additional funding brings the total to $2,797,733. The seven school districts within the 18th Senatorial District will be receiving a total of $5,788,392 in Ready To Learn Block Grant funding.
Information provided to TVL by:
Kurt J. Derr
Office of Senator Lisa Boscola
One East Broad Street, Suite 120
Bethlehem, PA 18018
