Representative

Good Schools Pennsylvania May 5, 2009 Take action now!

However, the services related to the overall academic and social success of our children are being cut. You will also receive this evening information on what is proposed to being cut for individuals with disabilities. I need to put this information in one email for your convenience. A phone call takes 5-10 minutes...time worth spending for our children!

As a supporter of an effective system of public education, you have worked hard to help secure a sound school funding formula that meets the needs of students, schools and communities.

But now Pennsylvania is in danger of moving backward.

Yesterday, leaders of the Pennsylvania State Senate introduced their 2009-2010 bu dget bills, proposing to cut state education funding to pre-2008-09 levels - perhaps making disproportionate cuts to financially struggling school districts. The proposal would then use federal stimulus dollars to make up the difference, not to make important community investments with long-term benefits as the bill intended.

We know that when the state fails to adequately support public education, struggling school districts either cut essential educational programs, or are forced to raise property taxes. And as we know from the 2007 costing-out study, many of Pennsylvania's school districts have no spare room to make cuts, underfunded as they are by $3,000 to $5,000 per student. Moreover, as a result of declining tax bases, these struggling school districts already shoulder some of the highest local tax rates in an effort to keep their school solvent.

It is our understanding that the Senate intends to vote on their budget proposal on Wednesday, May 6. Please click here to find your state senator. Contact him or her today and ask for a no vote on SB 850. Remind your state senator that as a Scranton Times editorial stated today, "Effective education funding is a key to short-term and long-term economic development in Pennsylvania. Increasing local property taxation is th e wrong answer to the state's revenue shortfall."

Your voice does make a difference. Thanks for your help!

Cecelia Thompson Chairperson, Philadelphia Right to Education Local Task Force