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Long-term investment, long-term gains

 

Since 2003 the House Democrats and Governor Ed Rendell have made education, and the need to reduce school districts' reliance on property taxes while ensuring student achievement, a top priority. The Education Department this week reported that student achievement in Pennsylvania continues to gain, with 29 percent more students on grade level compared to 2002 and historically low-achieving schools moving up.

 

Adequately funding education is one of the best investments we can make in our children and our economic future, and we must be vigilant in this commitment each year. This year's education budget includes a 5.5 percent increase in basic education funding, the largest in 20 years thanks to a new funding formula that seeks to move us closer to the kind of state support that will raise student achievement while holding down local property taxes.

 

And as students head to college next week, some freshmen will already have a jump-start with the college credit courses they were able to take as part of Pennsylvania's Dual Enrollment program, which received another $10 million in the new budget.

 

You can read more about the House Democrats' commitment to education, along with other issues important to you and your family, on our Web site, www.pahouse.com.

 

   

To read Gov. Ed Rendell's weekly newsletter, click this link:
http://www.virtualtours.state.pa.us/