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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. Chelsa Wagner |
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Wagner's $275 million block grant program approved by committee
HARRISBURG, June 11 – The House Education Committee today approved a bill sponsored by Rep. Chelsa Wagner, D-Allegheny, that would provide school districts with $275 million under the Accountability Block Grant program within the proposed 2008-09 state education budget.
The ABG program provides school districts with funding and the flexibility to choose from a variety of strategies proven to improve student achievement, such as pre-kindergarten, full-day kindergarten, smaller classes, teacher training and tutoring.
After the General Assembly established the program in 2004 with $200 million to provide grants to school districts, lawmakers steadily increased the state's investment in the program. With Wagner's bill, as proposed by the governor, the 2008-09 budget would continue the state's $275 million investment.
"The Accountability Block Grant program has been an important part of Pennsylvania's strategy to increase its commitment to our students and our schools," Wagner said. "With 501 school districts in Pennsylvania, no two are facing exactly the same issues and challenges. With these grants, we offer every single school district the ability to focus the additional resources toward its unique needs, all geared toward helping students reach their full potential in school and in life.
"As a strong advocate for early childhood education programs, I also believe it is extremely important to continue providing districts with grants to establish, maintain, or expand quality pre- and full-day kindergarten, as well as reducing class sizes in the early grades."
More than $2 out of every $3 in grant funds has been invested in early childhood programs across the state. Wagner noted that since the ABG was established, the Pittsburgh Public School District has continued using $5.76 million for high-quality pre-kindergarten programs, benefiting nearly 500 students in 2007-08.
For more information on the ABG, and the rest of the 2008-09 education and state budget proposals, visit http://www.hacd.net/.
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