Governor Wolf Targets Major Changes in Education in Budget Address

Governor Wolf targets major changes in education in his budget address. Here are some ideas presented today:

  • Education is the heart of everything else
  • During the past 4 years, we took a step backwards in supporting education
  • The budget will restore 1 billion dollars in cuts that occurred in previous administration
  • There will be increases at every grade level
  • It expands access to Early Childhood Education
  • It includes increases in funding to community colleges
  • It asks institutions of higher education to freeze tuition
  • Accountability measures will be put into place to make sure the money goes to classrooms
  • It increases the State share for education to 50% up from the current level of 35%
  • It calls for a fair funding formula which should be based on need rather than on politics
  • We will pay for the increases in investment in education by applying a severance tax on natural gas which should generate 1 billion dollars
  • Property taxes will be reduced by 50% as well