For the third consecutive year, his education budget uses the historic education funding and accountability formula adopted in 2008 to distribute state subsidies based on the real needs of students, schools and communities.

As the Lancaster Intelligencer Journal reported in a recent article covering a legislative forum hosted by Good Schools Pennsylvania, (When concern for schools trumps partisan politics), "Where once wheeling and dealing influenced how much subsidy a school district received, now politics is out of the equation. An objective formula ties state money to need."

The state's education formula sets an adequacy target for each school district based on the number of students enrolled and the costs of preparing them to meet state academic standards. The formula then strives to close each district's adequacy gap by distributing basic education funding based on relative wealth, tax effort, and other factors reflecting district need. 

In today's budget address, Rendell proposed using the formula to distribute $354.8 million in federal stimulus dollars to support school districts in providing a quality public education while relieving pressure on local property taxes. A 2007 costing-out study identified that Pennsylvania's public schools are underfunded by $4.4 billion, and in enacting the new school funding formula for basic education costs in 2008, the General Assembly committed to meeting a state funding target of $2.6 billion over six years. 

In monitoring the implementation of the new funding and accountability reforms, Good Schools Pennsylvania has found many examples of how new resources are being used to make a positive difference for historically underfunded schools and struggling students. 

The needs of students, schools and taxpayers can further be met this year by extending the education funding reforms to special education.

As parents, educators and lawmakers noted at the Lancaster legislative forum, special education remains one of the fastest growing costs for most public schools, but has yet to be included in the funding and accountability reforms. Legislation to fix the state funding and accountability system for special education has been introduced in both chambers (House Bill 704 and Senate Bill 940) and is poised to advance as part of this legislative session.

The call for the General Assembly to act swiftly to adopt a sound education finance plan for 2010-11 was further emphasized at the legislative forum by Lancaster Mayor Rick Gray, who noted that older, developed communities have reached their limits in their ability to raise property taxes to support their schools and provide essential services. But he also noted that the suburbs are not far behind. "Not too many years down the road, they will run out of shopping centers and developments and they will be in the same boat we are in; they won't be able to expand themselves out of the property tax conundrum."