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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 reduction, as 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 entirely. Last 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.
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