Wolf wants $2B more in school funding
Gov. Tom Wolf proposed nearly $2 billion in new education funding in a state budget proposal, telling the General Assembly school funding is not a “can ... to kick down the road.”
In a Tuesday address to a joint session of the General Assembly, Wolf outlined the vision behind his proposed 2022-23 commonwealth budget, which would include a $1.75 billion boost to state basic funding for public schools, along with increases to various other education funding programs.
Under Wolf’s proposal, more than $2 billion in state funds — or 26.5% of the state’s basic education funding — would be allocated to school districts following the new “Fair Funding Formula,” established in 2016, which provides funds to districts based on needs rather than just the district’s size.
“The Fair Funding Formula was created by a bipartisan commission chaired by two Republican legislators, and it represents a long-overdue step towards achieving equal opportunity in our commonwealth,” Wolf said. “It promises that a child’s chance to thrive will not be determined by their ZIP code. Now, it’s time to keep that promise.”
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