|
|
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
|
State
Rep. Thaddeus Kirkland |
  
|
Kirkland's education empowerment funding bill heads to floor
HARRISBURG, June 12 – State Rep. Thaddeus Kirkland, D-Delaware, said an education funding bill he introduced was approved by the state House Education Committee this week.
The measure represents one component of Gov. Ed Rendell's proposed 2008-09 state education funding package in Pennsylvania.
Kirkland said his legislation (H.B. 2475) would provide up to $4.5 million in additional funding during 2008-09 to assist Chester-Upland School District, which is certified by the state as an education empowerment district.
Kirkland said the proposed allocation would invest an additional $500 in each child's education.
"We must continue to support Chester-Upland with an adequate level of school funding for our children's future, "Kirkland said."Our children deserve a chance to succeed in school regardless of the economic conditions of our community and school district."
The proposed funding increase under Kirkland's bill is the first part of a six-year strategy to increase the equality and adequacy of state education funding in school districts across the state.
Kirkland said a costing-out study completed in late 2007 identified two key shortages in the way the state funds school districts: adequacy in some school districts and equity among all school districts in Pennsylvania.
House Bill 2475 is expected to be considered soon by the full House.
###