Standing by last year’s budget themes, Gov. Tom Wolf encouraged the state legislature today to fund “schools that teach.” Warning that failure to fully fund the state’s education system could result in teacher layoffs, crowded classrooms, cuts to technical education, special education and Head Start, as well as the elimination of the Pre-K counts program, the Governor is proposing:
- A $200 million (3.3 percent) increase in the Basic Education Subsidy;
- A $50 million (4.6 percent) increase in the Special Education Subsidy;
- A $60 million (30.5 percent) increase in high-quality early childhood education;
- $15 million in additional support for the establishment and expansion Career and Technical Education programs;
- Opportunities for students to earn college credit and industry credentials while participating in work-based learning;
- $5 million for Career and Technical Education Equipment Grants;
- $8 million to help school districts offer college and career counseling in middle and high schools;
- A $22.1 million increase for Pennsylvania’s 14 community colleges;
- A $42.3 million increase for the 14 universities that are part of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education;
- A $59.7 million increase for Penn State University, the University of Pittsburgh, Temple University and Lincoln University.
To read the Governor’s full briefing on Schools that Teach, go to: https://www.governor.pa.gov/budget-briefing-schools-that-teach/