Students’ social and emotional needs, chronic absenteeism, discipline issues, staffing shortages and high Covid infection rates make progress difficult.
Under the proposed $1.3 billion education funding increase, schools throughout the commonwealth would receive more money.
Wolf is calling for all state funding for Pennsylvaniaâs 501 school districts through the stateâs Fair Funding Formula â something districts have long wanted.
The formula includes factors such as enrollment, student poverty, and charter school enrollment.
The funding boost would be supported by an increase in the stateâs personal income tax rate that also expands exemptions for lower-wage earners.
âI am tentatively hopeful,â said Dr. Jill Jacoby, superintendent of Fort Cherry School District.
Jacoby said she was delighted to hear the governorâs budget address, which focused primarily on education.