HARRISBURG (JUNE 3, 2016) – The Campaign for Fair Education Funding today applauded Governor Wolf for signing into law a fair funding formula for basic education sent to him by the General Assembly, a demonstration of  bipartisanship and acknowledgment of the need to more equitably distribute school funding.

“The formula is an important first step toward getting all Pennsylvania students what they need in the classroom,” said Campaign spokesman Charlie Lyons. “The next step is to make sure it’s properly funded.”

He noted that Pennsylvania is ranked 46th in the country for its share of education funding – contributing only 36 percent, among the lowest in the nation according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

In addition, data from the National Center for Education Statistics show Pennsylvania has the widest funding gap between wealthy and poor districts of any state in the country, and per-pupil spending in Pennsylvania’s poorest districts is 33 percent less than in the wealthiest districts.

“The Campaign wants to see all new education funding driven out through the new formula, including significant annual education funding increases over the next several years,” Lyons said. “This is the most reasonable way to bring all public schools to a funding level that will give all students, no matter where they live, a fair shot at academic success.”

The formula signed into law was unanimously approved last year by the bipartisan Basic Education Funding Commission and overwhelmingly passed by the General Assembly to help Pennsylvania begin the transition to fair and predictable funding.

The Campaign for Fair Education Funding is a statewide non-partisan effort made up of more than 50 organizations that, collectively, represent Pennsylvanians from every corner of the state: teachers and school administrators; representatives of charter schools and traditional public schools; urban and rural interests; business and organized labor; faith-based groups; and community groups.

Learn more at www.fairfundingpa.org.

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