Basic Education Funding

Policy Committee    March 5, 2024

DOWNINGTOWN, March 5 – After years of chronic underfunding, state lawmakers should focus on how much investment in public education is needed, experts detailed. The House Majority Policy Committee hosted a hearing on the topic at the Chester County Intermediate Unit, hosted by Rep. Danielle Friel Otten (D-Chester). Experts explained how an absence of fair and equitable funding at the state level for public education has caused financial burdens for residents, forcing taxpayers to cover the shortfall in funding when property taxes are raised to fund local schools.  

• Host: Rep. Danielle Friel Otten, D-Chester
• Testifiers:
  • Dr. Pamela Brown- Southeastern Region President, Pennsylvania State Education Association
  • Laura Johnson- Board Member, Pottstown School District
  • Susan Spicka- Executive Director, Education Voters of Pennsylvania
  • Donna Cooper- Executive Director, Children First PA
  • Dan Urevick-Ackelsberg- Senior Attorney, Public Interest Law Center

Agenda + Testimony

• Hearing agenda and testimony: Basic Education Funding

Media Release + News Coverage

• Unfair education funding and its problems detailed by experts, March 5, 2024
• Daily Local News, Education funding subject of House hearing in Chester County, March 5, 2024
• MyChesCo, The Fight For Fair Funding: Pennsylvania Schools Face Crucial Crossroads, March 6, 2024

Video + Photos

• Click here to view the entire hearing
• Click here to view photos from the hearing