Good news came this week in the amount of $13.55 billion: a record allocation for public education in the state budget.

Even better, the education funding for the 2021-2022 fiscal year passed in both the state House and Senate with bipartisan support before Gov. Tom Wolf signed the bill into law. By comparison, the budget included more than $2 million more for education than the first budget that was passed during Wolf’s tenure.

Among the highlights in the budget are a $300 million increase for basic education as well as $30 million for early childhood education, $50 million for special education and $200 million for the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) over the next four years. All of this is good news for schools in the county. Studies in recent years have shown that schools at all levels are lacking adequate funding.

For example, a study of school district budgets around the state — including Butler School District — that was released in early 2020 by education nonprofit Research for Action noted that while districts often spend money wisely, they lack the amount necessary to flourish.

Although Butler often exceeded expectations, the study found the district needed an additional $7 million to accomplish everything its model says is proven for success.

We hope funding in the recently passed budget provides additional resources that will help county school districts succeed.

Another example of inadequate funding was noted in a report last year from former state Auditor General Eugene DePasquale, who found that Pennsylvania has the second highest level of student debt in the United States. The state has also been ranked 47th among states for per capita funding for higher education, and officials at county institutions of higher learning have linked the high student-debt rate with the lack of state funding for higher education.

“Butler County is blessed to have outstanding school districts and community colleges — in order to keep them running at peak efficiency and to give students the best education possible, we must do our best to fully fund schools,” state Rep. Marci Mustello said regarding the state budget’s allocation for education.

She’s absolutely correct. To make a long story short, legislators in the state House and Senate made a good decision to set aside such a large amount for public education. It’s much needed and will hopefully go a long way for county schools.

— NCD