Inside Harrisburg

by state Rep. Dan Frankel

New budget includes big boost for education

As this year’s budget session came to a close, House Democrats banded together and won the fight on several issues important to Pennsylvanians. As a member of the House committee that drafts the budget, I am proud of the improvements we fought for and won in health care, transportation and energy independence, but perhaps the biggest victory came in the education arena.

Pennsylvania’s children hold the key to the state's future, and funding education helps to ensure that our children have the brightest futures possible. We made it our goal to provide them with the tools they need to grow and succeed by updating our classrooms to meet the standards set by the global marketplace. We achieved this goal by passing a budget with more than $4.9 billion, almost a 3.5 percent increase, to fund pre-kindergarten through 12th grade.

This is an investment in our schools’ and their students’ success. Success in education can start at the earliest stage of learning, so it is a victory for our children that we voted for a 10 percent increase in Accountability Block Grants. These grants not only give school districts the opportunity to tailor part of their state funding to their individual needs, but help fund the highly successful full-day kindergarten program. With $20 million in dedicated funding, nearly 7,600 more children will have access to this program.

Early education can open the door for every child to do well in school and beyond. Because a child’s early years are crucial to lifelong learning and quality pre-kindergarten programs build the foundation for future academic success, the 2007-08 budget provides $75 million to fund Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts. This initiative will provide parents in participating communities with options for quality full- or half-day pre-kindergarten throughout the school year and is expected to reach more than 11,000 children, getting them off on the right foot in their educational careers.

As our children grow, the ways in which they learn grow with them. Gov. Rendell's Classrooms for the Future initiative continues to improve the way our children learn and prepares them for the technology they will encounter in the work force. The budget invests $90 million to help an additional 254 high school classrooms replace antiquated technology. These schools will add 83,000 laptop computers to their classrooms, bringing the total number of laptops distributed to 99,000 in 357 Pennsylvania schools. This initiative will greatly improve how classrooms operate by expanding the realm in which teachers instruct and students learn. Classrooms for the Future was launched with the goal of equipping all high schools by 2009; I am hopeful that the legislature will follow up on our achievements this year and equip every high school in Pennsylvania by that deadline.

In addition, this technology will even the playing field for students in their future educational endeavors. Some students may not have access to computer technology at home. Including it in high school grooms all students for success, especially considering many college courses include online tests in their curriculum. We owe it to our students to ensure they are computer-literate when they arrive at college.

Along with Classrooms for the Future, we are increasing the amount of funding for dual enrollment for Pennsylvania’s high school students. Dual enrollment allows high school students to take college courses and receive credit for them before graduation. This year, students will take nearly 10,000 college-credit courses as a result of this investment. By investing in and encouraging dual enrollment, we are giving more of our high school students a head start when they reach the college level.

Education is one of the best long-term investments we can make. Our students are the key to Pennsylvania’s continued success. It is their job to be successful in their endeavors and unlock a promising future. It is our job to give them every possible tool with which to do that. This budget ensures that our children’s education will be well-funded and the keys to unlocking their future will be within reach.

            Constituents in the 23rd Legislative District with state-related concerns or questions may call Representative Dan Frankel’s office at 412-422-1774 or visit the office at 4225 Murray Ave. His Web site is www.pahouse.com/Frankel.

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