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June 25 – State Rep. Mike Schlossberg said he voted for the 2021-22 state budget citing the inclusion of his Level Up education funding proposal for the poorest school districts in Pennsylvania.
“This is a monumental breakthrough in the ongoing fight for fair education funding for the school districts that need it the most,” said Schlossberg, D-Lehigh. “This funding will benefit some of Pennsylvania’s hardest hit districts in Allentown, Philadelphia, Scranton, Reading, Harrisburg, York and Erie which have been grossly underfunded for too long and help give every student the chance to succeed.”
Schlossberg said the Allentown School District, in his district, will see an increase in Basic Education funding, totaling $15.9 million. $9.5 million from Pennsylvania’s Basic Education Funding formula and $6.4 million made possible from his Level Up proposal. The school district will also see an increase in Special Education funding totaling $1 million. The Parkland School District, also in Schlossberg’s district, will see a 12.8% increase in Pennsylvania’s Basic Education funding and a 4.6% increase in Special Education funding.
According to Schlossberg, the 2021-22 state budget includes language that is identical to his H.B.1167, and will provide $100 million to the 100 poorest school districts in Pennsylvania. The money can be used to hire more educators, upgrade schools that were built more than a century ago and provide students and faculty with 21st century technology.
“The fight for fair funding is far from over and the fight for equity in education isn’t over, but this is a great first step for the most underfunded districts to reach adequate funding,” Schlossberg said.
More details on Schlossberg’s Level Up school funding initiative can be found here.
Information provided to TVL by:
Thomas LeClair
House Democratic Communications Office
