Equity First Hosting Capitol Rotunda Rally
Citizens for Fair School Funding
“Support Equity First”
Media Contact: Equity First
Info@SupportEquityFirst.org | @EquityFirst
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 24, 2016
Equity-First Hosting Capitol Rotunda Rally
11:30 am Thursday April 28th in State Capitol Rotunda
Group Wants $300 Million in New Basic Education Funding to go to 180 Underfunded School Districts FIRST
HARRISBURG – The Citizens for Fair School Funding announced they are hosting a Capitol Rotunda Rally at 11:30 am on Thursday, April 28th in the Pennsylvania State Capitol. Taxpayers, educators, students and supporters are cordially invited to attend.
Formed in 2016, the non-profit group was established to help 180 underfunded school districts receive fair and complete funding according to the June 2015 bipartisan Basic Education Funding Commission Report (“BEF Report”). According to the BEF Report 180 school districts are underfunded by $937 Million and likewise 320 districts are overfunded by $937 Million. For many of the 180 underfunded districts their funding shortfalls started growing exponentially in 1991-1992 when student enrollment adjustments were removed from the funding formula, and the budgeting term, “hold-harmless” was introduced and funded.
Simply put, if the 180 underfunded districts do not receive additional funding allocations compared to the 320 overfunded districts, the 180 districts will remain underfunded for another 25 years, or longer.
The socio-economic impacts of these massive funding shortfalls have been devastating. The cities of Reading, York, Allentown and areas of Monroe County have the highest foreclosure rates in Pennsylvania. In fact, certain townships in Monroe County have the highest foreclosure rates in the United States with over 50 percent of mortgages, under-water.
Reading SD is underfunded by $95 Million, annually, 42 percent of their total budget
Allentown SD is underfunded by $66 Million, annually, 26 percent of total budget
Philadelphia SD is underfunded by $53 Million, annually, 2 percent of total budget
Lancaster SD is underfunded by $46 Million, annually, 26 percent of total budget
York SD $46 Million, Erie SD $41 Million, Wilkes-Barre SD $28 Million, Pocono Mountain SD $28 Million, Harrisburg SD $24 Million, Bethlehem SD $20 Million, Scranton SD $19 Million, East Stroudsburg SD $15 Million, Chester-Upland $15 Million, Lebanon SD $14 Million, Upper Darby SD $12 Million, Pottstown SD $11 Million, State College SD $11 Million, Conestoga Valley SD $10 Million.
Is my district underfunded, http://bit.ly/
For more information, visit: www.SupportEquityFirst.
The Citizens for Fair School Funding is a non-profit organization established to (1) raise awareness of the findings of the June 2015 bipartisan Basic Education Funding Commission, (2) help 180 underfunded school districts secure funding equity as soon as possible so they don’t remain underfunded for another 25 years (3) support School Consolidation and Cost-Savings commissions recommended in the BEF Commission Report. www.
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