NEW FINDINGS: FINANCIAL CUTS TO SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION PROGRAMS IMPACT COMMUNITIES ACROSS
SOUTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA
Fact Sheets Available For Bucks, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery
(PHILADELPHIA) May 20, 2013 – Local school districts have been bearing the brunt of education cuts over the last year by raising property taxes, according to newly published information by Public Citizens for Children and Youth (PCCY) which details funding levels for each of the five counties in Southeastern Pennsylvania.
The fact sheets show that while Governor Tom Corbett has proposed increasing 2 percent of the funding that Pennsylvania cut from school districts, that amount would provide less than 10 percent of the funds lost over the past two years. Because the amount is not large enough to allow districts to meet the newly required pension fund obligations they face, the chances of that funding making its way to classrooms are unlikely, the region’s leading non-profit children’s advocacy organization stressed.
Suburban southeast Pennsylvania school districts received $37 million less this year than they did three years ago.
Here’s how districts in those counties responded:
- Bucks County: 9 of 13 districts raised property taxes once, and 8 raised property taxes for two years straight
- Chester County: all 14 districts raised property taxes once, and 12 of 14 raised property taxes for two years straight
- Delaware County: 13 of 15 school districts raised property taxes once, and 10 raised property taxes for two years straight
- Montgomery County: 17 of 21 school districts raised property taxes once, and 15 raised property taxes for two years straight
The fact sheets also reveal a shortage of high quality Pre-K in every school district.
The Governor’s proposed 5 percent increase to state-funded Head Start would serve fewer children during the school year than in 2010-2011. And despite a 5 percent increase to Pennsylvania’s Pre-K Counts, only a small portion of eligible children will receive services during the school year:
- In Bucks County only 4 percent of eligible children would receive services
- In Chester County only 1.7 percent of eligible children would receive services
- In Delaware County only 7 percent of eligible children would receive services
- In Montgomery County only 3 percent of eligible children would receive services.
Many children who are eligible for these programs aren’t able to enroll because these programs are full.
Although the proposed budget includes 1 percent more for child care subsidy, funding is 18 percent lower than it was in 2010-2011.
Noting that the 2014 budget negotiations are a critical opportunity for Pennsylvania to reinvest in K-12 public schools and early childhood education, PCCY has urged the state to restore the cuts made over the last three years to public schools and early childhood education. The organization is also rallying the public to join it in advocating for the region’s children and youth by urging their legislators to reinvest in early childhood and K-12 education.
Fact sheets can be found on PCCY’s website at www.childrenfirstpa.org/suburbanedfactsheets
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