How much is your child's education worth? The gap between Pennsylvania's richest and poorest schools is growing, according to the results of a new study, which focused on what the districts spend to educate children.
"Our public schools do important work, and part of that work must include setting an example," Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett said in 2011.
Under Corbett's term, however, the financial example shown by public education is the widening gap between rich and poor school districts, according to The Associated Press study.
"Honestly, you'd have to be blind not to notice that schoolchildren in Allentown don't get the same quality of education as in wealthier school districts," said Pa. Rep. Mike Schlossberg, D-Lehigh County, a former Allentown councilman.
The wealth gap has doubled between rich and poor schools over the past four years, according to the AP study.
For example, Allentown, one of the state's poorest districts, spends about $12,500 per student, while Lower Merion Township, the state's wealthiest district, spends nearly $27,000.
"When you think of a typical elementary classroom of 25 students, and when you compare two communities, you may have a difference of $250,000 or more."
Jim Buckheit, of the Pennsylvania Association of School Administrators, also said the income gap affects everything from books, technology, tutoring programs, and after-school activities to having a full complement of teachers.
Buckheit admitted to a slight funding increase under Corbett, but...
"Most of that money to support public education has been going to support pension increases," he said. "It's not money that goes to support classroom activities."
Wealthier districts have a stronger tax base that can pay higher property taxes.
The Corbett administration said the study looked at only one side of the story and said if you took taxing power away from local districts and gave it to the state, the gap could be closed as wealthier districts receive less state aid than poorer districts.
Locally, there is hope. Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski said because of all the existing and future downtown development, the Allentown School District could see an additional $10-15 million within the next decade.
from 69News:Home http://www.wfmz.com/news/study-gap-between-pennsylvanias-richest-poorest-schools-growing/30445232
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