Montgomery County needs more state dollars for its public schools to provide an educated, skilled and trained workforce that is needed for the county’s continued economic growth, according to the county’s top government official.

Commissioner Chairman Josh Shapiro Thursday called for a yearly addition of $34 million in state aid to assist public schools in accomplishing that mission. That is the approximate amount of funds that schools lost in 2011 when the state funding formula, which was buoyed by federal stimulus funds, lapsed.

“Let me make it very clear that the state of our public school education system in Montgomery County is strong but it is also clear that we have a lot more work to do to sustain that strength in the coming years,” said Shapiro.

Shapiro’s comments came Thursday when, on the steps outside the county courthouse in Norristown, Public Citizens for Children and Youth (PCCY) released its report entitled, “The Bottom Line is Children: State of Public Education in Montgomery County.” The report reviewed different yardsticks to evaluate the education that the county’s 21 public school systems provide to a combined approximate 105,000 students.

Donna Cooper, executive director of the Philadelphia-based nonpartisan nonprofit child advocacy organization, echoed Shapiro’s comments.

“Montgomery County has some of the best school districts in southeastern Pennsylvania but as districts face more challenges and the need to meet higher standards, more state investment is needed to protect and preserve the great reputation of these districts.”

Among the findings in the report:

• Montgomery County has the highest high school graduation rate (93.3 percent) among the four suburban counties outside Philadelphia. Still, 15,700 students are not reading or doing math at grade level.
• Only 52 percent of the county’s children have the option of attending full-day kindergarten.
• There is a $142,000 per classroom spending gap between the highest- and lowest-spending districts, with the Lower Merion schools spending about $16,145 per student while the Upper Perkiomen schools spend an average some $9,039 per student in instructional costs.
• About 83 percent (18 of 21) of the school districts have had to raise property taxes at least once in the last three years.

The growing gap in some districts between the average student performance and those who are economically disadvantaged is of particular concern to the advocacy group, said Cooper.

The number of low-income students has increased from 16,241 students in 2008 to 23,698 students in 2012, according to the report. For example, the number of low-income students in the Hatboro-Horsham School District doubled, going from about 400 to 800 students, according to the report. Many of these students need specialized programs to keep them on track with their fellow classmates, the report said.

However, to implement many of these specialized programs or even giving these students a head start with full-day kindergarten programs, additional funds often are needed, particularly in some of the more cash-strapped school districts.

Shapiro noted that, with the exception of the Pottstown and Norristown school districts that do receive some additional funds because of the high poverty levels in those communities, the state provides on the average about 12 cents for every dollar invested in a child’s education while the federal government chips in another approximate 1½ to 2 cents, with the remaining 86 cents coming from taxpayers.

This burden on property owners is not sustainable, said Shapiro, calling for more state funds and the adoption of an equitable school funding formula that reflects student needs.

“Investing in early childhood education and seeing that commitment through to high school is critical to ensuring that our county remains strong and vibrant,” said Shapiro. “By investing in education, we increase the prospects for a lifetime of success for our children, grow our economy, reduce crime and improve our quality of life.”

Cooper said the advocacy group currently is working on similar education reports for Bucks, Chester and Delaware counties.

The Intelligencer – November 1, 2013 – Read article online