Three Points on PA School Funding

An assortment of notes from the inbox regarding the funding of PA Schools:

"Property Tax Elimination Bill Threatens Long-term Public School Funding" by Sharon Ward, PA Budget and  Policy Center 9/25/2013

first two paragraphs:

Pennsylvania contributes a smaller share of the cost of educating its students than most states, leaving local taxpayers to contribute more. This makes the resources available to public education highly dependent on local wealth and property taxes burdensome for some individuals.

Restoring the state’s commitment to fund 50% of the cost of public schools would go a long way toward solving both problems — ensuring that students who live in modest and lower-wealth districts get the same high-quality education as their wealthier counterparts, and reducing the pressure on property taxpayers.

later:  

Property tax elimination proposals, including HB 76 and SB 76, pose a serious threat to stable, predictable education funding.

 State Rep. James Roebuck weighs in:

State Rep. James Roebuck, Democratic chairman of the House Education Committee, responded to today's announcement of a limited bill to post school financial data online:

"I welcome more support for transparency in school funding, but we already know that we are overpaying at least $365 million to charter and cyber charter schools. Reform legislation should also return that $365 million to our underfunded traditional public schools to restore services for students and reduce the burden on local property taxpayers. Unfortunately, the House Republican leadership is planning a vote as soon as today on a weak cyber/charter bill (H.B. 618) that would return only about 11 percent of those overpayments. I’ve introduced a more comprehensive reform bill, H.B. 934, that would return the $365 million and has stronger transparency and accountability requirements."

Brett Mandel gives a parent's perspective:  http://brettmandel.com/content/save-all-our-schools-0