More state funding for needier schools in Rendell's proposed budget

More state funding for needier schools in Rendell's proposed budget Mr. Rendell said the proposed change in basic education funding would lift 132 districts above $9,030 per pupil but still would leave 21 below that target.

Pittsburgh isn't one of them.

The city schools already spend $15,173 per student. The district would benefit from the governor's basic education funding plan, anyway, because it calls for an increase of at least 2 percent for all school districts.

Pittsburgh's basic education funding would increase from $127.8 million to $130.3 million, not including special education, busing, food service and other separately funded programs. Almost a quarter of the school district's $533.6 million budget comes from state basic education funding.