Wednesday, February 08, 2012

Education in PA

EPLC Education Notebook
Tuesday, February 7, 2012

SPECIAL EDITION

Summary of Governor Corbett's Proposed 2012-2013 Education Budget

The Education budget for 2012-2013 proposed by Governor Tom Corbett on February 7 would shift more K-12 school funding burden to local taxpayers and dramatically cut state funding for higher education.

The proposed K-12 budget would "block grant" or collapse four current line items for basic education subsidy funding ($5.35 billion), pupil transportation ($542.3 million), nonpublic and charter school public transportation ($77.7 million) and $541.56 million of School Employees' Social Security into a new Student Achievement Education Block Grant. This combined line block grant line item would provide an increase of only 3/10 of 1% over last year's figure, or $21.8 million. This modest increase apparently covers only increased social security obligations, and provides no real increase for the basic subsidy to districts. Most other line items under the Governor's PK-12 education budget were level funded or received a 5 percent reduction.

The Education budget for 2012-2013 proposed by Governor Tom Corbett on February 7 would shift more K-12 school funding burden to local taxpayers and dramatically cut state funding for higher education.

The proposed K-12 budget would "block grant" or collapse four current line items for basic education subsidy funding ($5.35 billion), pupil transportation ($542.3 million), nonpublic and charter school public transportation ($77.7 million) and $541.56 million of School Employees' Social Security into a new Student Achievement Education Block Grant. This combined line block grant line item would provide an increase of only 3/10 of 1% over last year's figure, or $21.8 million. This modest increase apparently covers only increased social security obligations, and provides no real increase for the basic subsidy to districts. Most other line items under the Governor's PK-12 education budget were level funded or received a 5 percent reduction.

BASIC EDUCATION-

The following education line items received a 5 percent reduction, as indicated by the dollar value.


  • Pre-K Counts ($4.139 million).
  • Head Start Supplemental Assistance ($1.864 million).
  • Adult and Family Literacy ($614 thousand).
  • Education of Migrant Laborers' Children ($45 thousand).
  • Services to Non-Public Schools ($4.319 million).
  • Textbooks, Materials and Equipment for Nonpublic Schools ($1.314 million).
  • Safe School Initiative ($106 thousand).
The following line items received a 10 percent reductionas indicated by the dollar value.

  • Teacher Professional Development ($718 thousand).
  • Community Education Councils ($120 thousand).
The following line items were level funded. Total funding is listed for each item.

  • Special Education would be flat-funded for the 4th consecutive year ($1.026 billion).
  • PA Charter Schools for the Deaf and Blind ($39.401 million)
  • Approved Private Schools ($98.098 million)
  • Authority Rentals and Sinking Fund Requirements ($296.198 million)
  • Payments in Lieu of Taxes ($194 thousand)
These education items were eliminated entirelyLast year's funding level indicated for each item.

  • Mobile Science Education Program ($650 thousand).
  • School Nutrition Incentive Program ($3.327 million).
  • Job Training Programs ($4.8 million).
These line items received increases, as indicated by the dollar value.

  • Career and Technical Education was increased by 1.5 percent ($1.089 million).
  •  PA Assessment was increased by 42.6 percent ($15.601 million).
  • Early Intervention received a 4.1 percent increase ($8.057 million).
  • School Food Services was increased by 2.4 percent ($734 thousand).
  • School Employees' Retirement was increased by 52.6 percent ($315.880 million).
  • Tuition for Orphans and Children Placed in Private Homes was increased by 3.5 percent ($1.955 million).
 HIGHER EDUCATION-

  • The Community Colleges line item was reduced by 3.8 percent, a loss of $8.801 million.
  • Regional Community College Services was eliminated ($700 thousand).
  • Three of the four State-Related Universities (The Pennsylvania State University, University of Pittsburgh, and Temple University) have been cut by 30 percent.
  • The Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) has been reduced by 20 percent, a loss of $82.550 million.
  • The Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency was reduced overall by 6.4 percent, a loss of $27.245 million. Grants to Students and Matching Payment for Student Aid were reduced by 5 percent, a combined loss of $19.705 million. Institutional Assistance Grants (IAGs) were reduced by 30 percent, a loss of $7.317 million.
LIBRARIES, THE ARTS AND PA HISTORICAL AND MUSEUM COMMISSION-

  • Pennsylvania Council on the Artsadministrative budget and grants to arts organizations would be held level at $886,000 and $8,179,000, respectively.   
  • Funding to Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission would face a 5% reduction, decreasing from $17,525,000 to $16,649,000. 
  • Library funding (including the public library subsidy, services for the visually impaired and disabled, and the library access line item) would be reduced by 5%.  Total state dollars will decrease from $59,179,000 to $56,220,000. 
Click here for information from the Pennsylvania Office of the Budget about the proposed education budget.

Click here to view Pennsylvania Department of Education's 2012-2013 Budget Presentation documents and highlights.

Additional information and analysis about the budget will be posted on EPLC's website as it becomes available.


The EPLC Education Notebook (current and past editions) also is available by visiting the EPLC website at http://www.eplc.org/category/education-notebook/

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