ACTION ALERT: Prioritize Adequate and Equitable Funding for Pennsylvania’s Public Schools
The 2023 Basic Education Funding Commission (BEFC), a 15-member group consisting of three members from each legislative caucus and three appointees of the Shapiro Administration, is wrapping up its work after a series of hearings this fall where it gathered testimony from educators and education policy experts about the need to close the vast education funding gap in Pennsylvania’s public schools.
To complete its work, the BEFC must develop a plan to ensure that public education is adequately and equitably funded in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania per the recent Commonwealth Court decision that found the current system of funding our public schools is unconstitutional.
As the BEFC prepares its final report, it must hear from advocates like you. The members of the Commission need to know that Pennsylvanians expect a comprehensive report that outlines a roadmap to address the growing, unconstitutional funding gap, which is estimated to be at least $6.2 billion.
Please click here to use our action page where you will be given a draft email (which you can edit) that will be delivered to all members of the BEFC. Their report is due soon, so they need to hear from you NOW.
Especially because the state legislature did not renew the Level Up supplement for PA’s most underfunded schools this year, the recommendations in the final BEFC report must truly address the deficiencies and inequities identified in the Commonwealth Court’s decision, and these recommendations must create a road map to provide a comprehensive, contemporary, and effective public education in every community in Pennsylvania.
If the BEFC members don’t hear from us now, there’s a chance they will release a final report that is woefully inadequate. NOW is the time when sending them a message can have a real impact.
Thank you for being an advocate for our school, our educators, and our students, and have a happy holiday season!
– The PA Schools Work Campaign