Basic\u00a0Education\u00a0Funding\u00a0Commis
ALLENTOWN,\u00a0Sept. 12\u00a0\u2013\u00a0Testifiers detailed the critical importance of adequate funding for school districts to address building repairs, upgrades and maintenance to keep students and faculty safe during a Basic Education Funding Commission hearing today.<\/p>\n
\u201cMother Nature helped prove the need is right now for school building funding with the oppressive heat wave last week,\u201d\u00a0said Schweyer,\u00a0Majority Chairman of the PA House Education Committee\u00a0(D-Lehigh). \u201cMany school districts across PA\u00a0closed or adjusted to virtual learning\u00a0during the extreme heatbecause there was no\u00a0air conditioning or means to\u00a0protect students and staff from the excessive temperatures.\u00a0Our children have waited long enough and should not have to continue to learn in substandard conditions.\u201d<\/p>\n
The hearing was hosted by Schweyer and state Sen. Nick Miller at the Allentown School District Administration Building and included testimony from the superintendents of the Allentown, Bethlehem and Salisbury school districts as well as other education advocates to discuss the impacts of classroom environments on students\u2019 abilities to learn.<\/p>\n
“I am glad the BEFC began the hearings right here in Allentown. As a former school board member, education has long been a passion of mine. My district includes 10 school districts, ranging from rural to suburban to urban, across the Lehigh Valley, all with unique needs we are addressing,\u201d said Miller, D-Lehigh. \u201cListening to experts and stakeholders today and beginning the process of working with my colleagues to determine a better system to properly fund all public schools across the commonwealth was the first step to allowing every student to receive the best education they can to ensure a strong workforce of tomorrow and relieve the burden currently placed on property taxpayers.”<\/p>\n
The 2023\u00a0Basic Education Funding Commission is charged with reviewing the distribution of state funding for basic education to Pennsylvania\u2019s 500 school district and providing a report of its findings to the General Assembly.<\/p>\n
The BEFC is a 15-member group consisting of\u00a0three members from each legislative\u00a0caucus and three members of the administration.<\/p>\n
\nInformation provided to TVL by:
\nThomas LeClair
\nResearch Analyst
\nHouse Democratic Education Committee<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
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Basic\u00a0Education\u00a0Funding\u00a0Commission hears from education, health experts ALLENTOWN,\u00a0Sept. 12\u00a0\u2013\u00a0Testifiers detailed the critical importance of adequate funding for school districts to address building repairs, upgrades and maintenance to keep students and faculty … Continue reading Testifiers emphasize school repairs, upgrades to provide safe, quality education for students<\/span>