Millions Down, Billions To Go

While Harrisburg may be adopting a fair funding formula, it’s miles short of the goal. Just how many miles? The Commonwealth spends $5.8 billion on its public schools annually and the formula only comes into play when there’s new money above that. This year, for example, should the budget pass, we’re looking at $350 million in new education dollars.

A formula that tackles millions and ignores billions? Just how many miles? Enough where the horizon will remain out of sight for generations.

If you’re reading this, you probably celebrated the news about the funding formula like we did but knowing full well the system remains out of order.

Funding for public education in the Commonwealth has been a political football for far too long leaving the needs of our students and the prospects of a strong Pennsylvania on the sidelines. But on Monday, the issue moved a few more steps forward to make it a legal one.

In November 2014, parents and school districts filed a lawsuit arguing that the state’s public education funding system provides inadequate resources to meet state standards and does so in a manner that that discriminates against poor districts, contrary to the state constitution’s equal protection provision.

The Commonwealth Court dismissed the suit in April finding that the state Supreme Court had precluded the courts from weighing into whether the legislature complies with the constitution on school funding issues. An appeal of that dismissal is being heard by the Supreme Court.

On Monday, the districts and parents told the Supreme Court that they should reject the state’s claim that the issue is too complex to be heard by the courts and that the case should be decided based on its merits. In a reply to the court, they said allowing the dismissal to stand would be unacceptable.

“[This would] leave our school children to face the daily realities of crumbling buildings, inadequate teachers and staff, and overcrowd classrooms without any recourse under the very Constitution that promises to protect them,” concluded the parents and districts on Monday.

A funding formula is absolutely progress made. But considering the distance that must be travelled to even begin to fix the poor state of public education, the gain of a fair formula can feel like we’re running to stand still. Here’s to hoping success in the court finally gives us the traction our kids need.