MUSTO: EDUCATION BUDGET INVESTS IN PA SCHOOLS 

          HARRISBURG, July 13 – This year’s education budget makes key investments in Pennsylvania schools and the education of Pennsylvania children, according to State Sen. Ray Musto (D-Carbon/Luzerne/Monroe).

          “I am pleased with the outcome of this year’s education budget,” Musto said. “After years of fighting to provide more state dollars to help schools with construction work, this budget increases school construction reimbursement for the first time in 18 years.”

          Before this year, Pennsylvania’s school construction reimbursement rates had remained unchanged since 1987, which placed a greater burden on local school districts to bear the brunt of construction costs.  This year’s budget increases the reimbursement rate by 21 percent. 

          The Luzerne County lawmaker and Democratic Chairman of the Senate Education Committee added that the budget also provides first-ever incentives to encourage school districts to renovate or expand existing buildings rather than build new schools, take advantage of high-quality school designs that are posted on a school construction design clearinghouse, and build high-performance buildings that meet building design and material standards established by the U.S. Green Building Council.

          According to Musto, Pennsylvania’s total new investment for the 2005-06 school year is $278 million, which amounts to an average 3.5 percent school district subsidy hike.

          The 2005-2006 Education Budget provides school districts that spend less than $8,500 per student receive special “foundation funding” as part of the basic education subsidy.  This foundation funding boosts state funds by $22.3 million, or an average of $32 per student in these 225 low-spending districts.

          “This increase in funding is the next step in investing in the future of Pennsylvania’s education system,” Musto said. “By addressing school funding adequacy, it is a historic step forward to ensuring that every Pennsylvania child receive a quality education.”

          “Education is a fundamental right of every child,” Musto said. “This year’s education budget ensures that no child in any school district is left out.”