Pennsylvania is underfunding public education by $4.8 billion and it will take a 28 percent spending increase to remedy the problem, according to a study on school funding commissioned by the Pennsylvania legislature and released yesterday.
The state's poorest districts were the most underfunded, the study found.
If the legislature goes along with the recommendations, the state's share of education funding would increase from 37 percent to 60 percent. The average per-student spending would increase $2,545, to $12,057. And almost all districts - 474 of 501 - would get extra money.
Philadelphia would get $1 billion more. Many other area districts also would see big hikes: Delaware County's Upper Darby would get about $52.7 million and Central Bucks would get $42 million, for example.
One billion dollars a year! Think about that number for a second, and then ask yourself if there is any wonder that, given all of the other contributing factors (like, poverty, for example), Philly schools are not performing. One billion dollars!
So, you get a report detailing how shamefully underfunded our schools are, and of course, the most prominent Philadelphia Rep. is outraged and demands more money, right? Well, sort of:
State House Appropriations Chairman Dwight Evans, D-Phila., said accountability measures have to accompany any new school money.
Obviously, I'm not against making more investment, but there has to be accountability," he said.
Now, lets ignore for a second the irony of Dwight, who has demanded underperforming private education companies keep their contracts, now demanding accountability on schools. (And seriously, with this and his opinion that the problems with the Parking Authority are a 'public relations problem,' Dwight has really not inspired remorse that he didn't win in May.)
But, a state report comes out saying schools in your city are stunningly underfunded, and your response is that? Yikes.
And, of course, State Republicans demanded more money, too:
We will review it and look for ways to implement recommendations, but to get to a $4.6 billion increase in school funding would take a 48 percent increase in the sales tax, or a 47 percent increase in the personal income tax. I don't think the public or the General Assembly is willing to take a step like that," said Erik Arneson, a spokesman for Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi, a Delaware County Republican.
I think Pileggi is right. If you called up someone and said, I will increase your taxes 47 percent to fund schools, OK?, they will probably say no thanks. However, please note that in reality, what we would be talking about would be the PA tax rate going from a whopping 3.07 percent, to about 4.5 percent. A 1.4 percent increase to fully fund schools. I bet if you asked people how they felt about that- Would you be willing to raise the PA Income Tax rate 1.4 percentage points to raise the 4.8 billion dollars needed to fully fund PA schools?, the answer would be a lot different.
1 billion dollars... Roll that number around for a while...
When I'd support the increase:
First, I'd have to be reasonable assured that the increase was being used to fund schools, and in particular, more funding for Philadelphia schools.
Second, I'd have to be reasonably assured that the money goes into the classroom--not into more administration.
Third, I'd have to be reasonably assured that property tax increases in the name of additional school funding are looked at cautiously.
In reality, better schools do increase property value. If Philly had decent schools, there would be more demand to live here. That is a good thing.
I guess what I'm saying is, if the above issues are resolved, I'd consider it a wash. Sure, I'd be paying 1.4% more in taxes. But, I'd recieve benefits that, likely, exceed the expense.
I am working to elect Larry Farnese to the General Assembly. Unless otherwise expressly stated, this and every comment or blog I post on YPP and any action I take hereon is solely attributable to me and not Farnese or Friends of Farnese
The key statistic
Philadelphia, which has a little more than 10 percent of the state's population, bears well over twenty percent of the funding gap in Pennsylvania's public schools. Regardless of the final figure raised, or the political and practical realities of the means used to meet this gap, this inequality needs to be addressed.
The fact that the funding shortfall affects so many school districts means that there may -- may -- be the political will statewide to try to change this.
Free and fair education and health care for all of Pennsylvania's children. One state needs to try it.
--Tim
I agree. I would, however,
I agree. I would, however, oppose any funding measure that did not give Philadelphia its fair share.
There may be that political will. Hopefully there is.
I am working to elect Larry Farnese to the General Assembly. Unless otherwise expressly stated, this and every comment or blog I post on YPP and any action I take hereon is solely attributable to me and not Farnese or Friends of Farnese
Would you ask the same of Lower Merion?
I am not disagreeing with you, but it's not just that Philly needs more money in the classroom, it needs money everywhere. This is massive underfunding at every level.
I do want to struggle with you a bit about the notion that Philly needs to prove that its money goes into the classroom. In my mind if we wanted to know where our money was going wouldn't we then want to audit the Lower Merions of the state -- the ones getting 21 grand per child? Would we ask them about their higher teacher salaries and administrative support that makes the job of being a teacher easier?
Nancy McGinley wrote a powerful article in the Public School Notebook many years ago about the difference between being a principal at a middle school in Philly and being a middle school principal in Abington. Number one was the level of administrative support. She had a number of secretaries at her Abington Middle School, a dean of students, department heads whose sole job was to do curriculum and professional development; she had nurses and guidance counselors. At Pepper M.S. she was nurse, disciplinarian, secretary, academic leader, coach, counselor, and every and any other job in between.
Don't get me wrong. I think accountability needs to happen with more money, and I've been out there demanding to see money in the classroom, but I just want legislative leaders to be cautious -- especially when they're not in the system -- about directing money with this level of inequity in ways that they find personally pleasing.
This is massive inequity and we need to keep tabs on it, but it's not a billion dollars into the classroom when administration or facilities or professional and curriculum development need those dollars just as desperately.
Great point on funding
One of the unfortunate byproducts of politics is that sometimes lawmakers focus on things that sound good but actually mean very little. No one is against putting more money in classrooms, but it's clear that areas outside the classroom are just as important. Politicians and the media love to zero in on "waste" or "bureaucracy", even if it serves a useful purpose.
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Dwight's right - the real problem with our schools
is not enough testing.
NY schools
Food for thought on an article in the Economist about NYC public schools.
Certainly, I think a reworking of the seniority rules in Philly public schools is non-negotiable, whether there is more funding or not.
--Mike
Weeds in the Sidewalk
Huh?
Mike, do you really think that the seniority rule is the biggest issue facing Philadelphia's public schools? In my mind, this is one of those issues that gets a lot of attention but does not really amount to very much. It's a combination of funding and local control.
From the article you linked:
Call me crazy, but that seems to have nothing to do with the rules governing seniority.
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Ben: I don't disagree with
Ben:
I don't disagree with you on funding or control. I think the SRC will be gone within eight years no matter what.
I do think that seniority is an important issue. In many ways the average per pupil numbers don't take into account that schools like Central and other desirable places, effectively get to spend more per student because they have many extremely experienced teachers who make more. Do I think that principals and the school district head should be able to put experienced teachers where they are needed--absolutely.
I realize this is touching on your fondness for unions--and the SD union is not the primary problem Philly has--but it certainly isn't free from blame either.
--Mike
Weeds in the Sidewalk
Yes, I do have a fondness
Yes, I do have a fondness for unions. You know, the whole building the middle class thing.
I have noticed a strange phenomenon where every problem facing the city is blamed on the unions. Government corruption and budget problems? It's AFSCME's fault. Trouble at schoool? The PFT is to blame. The FOP gets blamed for problems with the police.
Look, many unions in Philly are need of reform, but they are not nearly as powerful as people imagine them to be.
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It's not anti-union or pro-union on seniority
I was a public school teacher in Philadelphia in Olney, and I know that there is massive inequity in distribution of quality, experienced teachers across the District. The Public School Notebook recently did a study on teacher inequity and found that it is as entrenched as ever, and a lot of it frankly has to do with union rules. The most experienced teachers pick first, and the least experienced pick last -- that's the way it works. And if there's an opening at Central vs. an opening at South Philly, which are you choosing?
Is this union busting? Only if the PFT lays it down like it's this way and no way else. There's no reason to think that it's one sole determiner of who goes where -- district or union. Plenty of other district have figured out how to provide incentives, or create pathways so that teachers don't just get "assigned" to a school against their will. But there needs to be the recognition that inequity exists, that unions especially the PFT has to consider how it's going to be a partner in addressing that inequity. As we're fighting for lower class size, holding onto benefits, and improving the classroom climate, we have to see movement from an exceptionally unwilling teachers union that has really fallen down on social justice unionism, esp. when compared with other unions across the nation (Cleveland for example).
To me, it comes down to this. A friend of mine who graduated from Central H.S. said he had three great teachers in a row who were Ph.D's, and said he really benefitted from their skills. Meanwhile, my friend who works at Germantown H.S. says he doesn't think there's a single Ph.D. in the building.
We have to get over this hostility thing. There's places where good people can talk and the inequitable access to quality teachers has to be one of them.
I have to agree with mansei
I have to agree with mansei here. Olney deserves as many PhDs as Central. And if Olney is going to improve, it will have get some.
There are tons of innovations that the district could embrace to improve the quality of education.
Removing disruptive kids permanently and truly enforcing a zero tolerance policy are good places to start. And I think regular, independent reviews of Principal performance is also needed. But there's more that needs to happen. I've proposed we get the building trades to set up shop in all our high schools so kids who don't go to college will graduate from high school with a skill and be well on his/her way to a trade. The trades prosper when the economy grows and nothing grows the economy like a workforce prepared for the future. And I think we, as a Commonwealth, should provide enough financial assistance so whomever wants to earn a college degree can do it, regardless of financial means.
And in some neighborhoods parents also want ACCESS. I recently met with a dozen young couples who moved to Queen Village/Bella Vista and many asked "so, how do we sign up for the local school board" or "is there an advisory council in every neighborhood to work with schools".
Its shameful that the district does not already have something in place. One of the possibilities with the new Center City catchments area is to have local advisory councils made up of parents that, in turn corresponds with a catchment panel that ultimately interfaces with the SRC. Until that kind of access is available, most of those young couples won't dream of sending their kids to local public schools. They said so.
This is a huge challenge. I believe the current generation of leaders has failed us. I suppose that's why so many of us are looking for something different.
Oh, yea, Dwight is right.
Oh, yea, Dwight is right.
The Parking Authority, PHEAA, PGW, the PA Gaming Control Board, the Convention Center Authority, the 203 members of the PA State House of Reps and the 50 State Senators need not be subject to accountability measures as their various budgets and powers increase. No, that would be silly.
The kids of the commonwealth, though. Further investments in their education? Now THAT demands accountability.
I think its time to ask Junior to take out that four legged table again so Mr. Evans can be reminded of the importance of high quality schools.
Your money or your kids
It's pathetic, but most people, when given the choice between paying higher taxes to fund their schools, or paying lower taxes, will apparently choose the lower taxes, their kids be damned. This is especially the case as the population ages, and more and more taxpayers see their taxes as paying for 'someone else's kids.'
Combine this with the fact that many (most?) wealthier families send their kids to private schools, + you can see the problem w/giving people the simple choice between their money or their kids: they'll choose their money, their kids be damned.
We like to make a lot of noise in this country about how much we love our kids, but I just don't see it. We may love our own kids, but that love barely reaches beyond the front door of peoples' homes.
-Z
Mike's point is a good one.
Mike's point is a good one.
Experienced teachers need to teach where they are needed most. If this means changes in the contract, so be it. When I was w/the PCHR, part of the job was to go into schools experiencing rises in violent crime, create curricula on non violent conflict resolution and get teachers and students involved in integrating it into their day. Our biggest obstacle, or so I was told by the teachers and the administrtaion, was the teachers contract and the many work rules and regulations that needed to be adhered to.
My point in bringing this up is that the teachers union, like the building trades and DC 33 and 47, need to be introdued to the 21st century and, more specifically, re-introduced to the realities of the modern workplace. On the flip side, they should be compensated accordingly and their familes protected in case of medical disasters.
Even with our Trouble with Labor (the title of a future post of mine)in Philadelphia, the fact is the state of PA accounts for a paltry 35% of the district's funding. It accounted for 55% of the district's funding in the year I was born. That's just unacceptable.
35 to 55 should be the goal
This is about underfunded schools and Evans' poor reply. The unions didn't underfund the district or refuse to full funding unless never-before-seen-in-PA accountability measures are introduced. BUT the union does play a part in the narrative. And they are at times anatagonists to change. We shouldn't forget the focus though.
55% in 1970 and 35% in 2008. Unacceptable.
Dancing around the point
Once again those who can't or won't teach are out preaching their same, old tired gospel of shifting teachers around as a solution to the problems of the school district. It's hard enough attracting teachers as it is, but if you start telling them where to work you'll lose even more. Feel good programs like "non-violent conflict resolution" are little more than just another liberal pipedream.
You want to truly change Philly schools get some backbone and really start implementing discipline. Don't talk about zero tolerance,do it !! Every school should have after-school detentions, Saturday detentions, restore the accomodation rooms. Stop dumping special ed. kids into regular classroom. It does little for the special kids and disrupts the entire class. Fire principals who refuse to work with their staffs, principals who are racist, thieves, liars, the list goes on.
A good principal with a backbone will do more to attract experienced teachers to hard-to-handle schools. Crap principals will only hire those they view as subservient to their own desires, asskissers, weaklings, sheep, etc. Better yet, do as they are starting to do elsewhere in the USA (Nevada for instance) and make ALL administrators have to spend some time teaching (not just show a video) in their own schools. It's amazing how their opinions change once they have had to spend some time in the trenches. Remember teachers often pick schools that are geographically close to their home. You start forcing them to drive even further each day and the vacancy rate will skyrocket.
Exactly when does Vern think teachers will be able to "integrate conflict resolution" into the teaching schedule? Teachers don't have time to even do mainstream subject likes Social Studies and Science thanks to our schools being turned into test mills via Benchmarks (which kids now have to take online in shifts) and the PSSA/TerraNova/testofthemonthclub. Don't even dream of something like music or art anymore. They've become luxuries at most schools.
Stop forcefeeding middle school kids into elementaries. All you're succeeding in doing is crapping up the elementaries. Solve the damn problem at the source of the problem, middle schools - do something about discipline.
Hold parents accountable. If they don't comply let them homeschool their kids. Stop whining about the teachers' union if you don't have the guts to go after the principals' union too. Teachers work three years for tenure (which DOES NOT guarantee you a job for life) while the principals have gotten tenure their first day of work for years. Stop covering up all the crimes that happen in our schools just to make your school look safe. Too many principals are bullying teachers into silence and that threatens not only the teachers, but your children too.
We need a Philly website (ala Chicago's District 299) to let the public know what is really going on in the school district. The local media is a joke when it comes to daily reporting on what happens in the schools. Give teachers an outlet to speak and you will be surprised what you're gonna learn about your schools. Look at the Galveston blog and how much dust that kicked up recently. You would have caught on alot sooner (and saved alot of money) if you had had a blog to expose Vallas two years ago instead of the puffpieces the D/Inc was rolling out on him during his stay.
It's hard enough attracting
Many junior teachers don't apply to the Philadelphia school district because they can't determine where in the district they will work: at a terrific school or a terrible one, with supportive administration or a bullying one, in their own neighborhood or across town.
If principals could have greater control over whom they hire in the first place, there would be much less demand for the right to remove the teachers already in their buildings.
The idea for a website is terrific!
Startitup!
--Tim
Status of teachers in Philly
While I think realschoolreform (RSR) has a point...try telling a mom in Hunting Park that her kid doesn't have a right to experienced teachers. The School District essentially has--forever. NYC's reform involves making Principals accountable and it seems to be working, so I agree with RSR there.
All that said, yes, Ben is right, and RSR too, Parent's need to be involved and their being so would make a big difference.
--Mike
Weeds in the Sidewalk
ADR is not the answer, funding is
My anecdote regarding the difficulty implementing nonviolent conflict resolution strategies into some of the public school day was presented as an illustration of the obstacles teachers and administrators face when trying to solve a problem like race riots in lunchrooms or aggravated assaults in homeroom.
It may be a liberal pipedream, but it has been successfully implemented in some public schools (in spite of difficult work rules to get around) and it has also been successfully implemented in private schools in the city (who often would call us in for prevention and not reaction).
Its a pipedream worth achieving because, school violence only begets more school violence. And school violence is the touch point to many other problems.
Tell the victims of a race riot at Rox. high, the gay kid who gets harassed, the preteen who had his head busted open at a Northeast HS or the 3rd grader beaten by a team of 5th graders that ADR isn’t worth teaching.
Children learn violence. If we can get them to learn math instead, we'd actually have a workforce in this town that companies would want to hire. Instead, we have high incidents of violence, low performing schools and an anemic economy.
That being said, the reason why I advocate for an increase in funding to 55% from the state is because there's no doubt about the value of arts and sports and music programs...or the value of having the funds to build separate schools so we can have a zero tolerance policy on violence and permanently remove disruptive kids.
The children, administrators and teachers (and their union) are often scapegoats for politicians who refuse to adequately fund these schools. That's unacceptable.
But to not see the value in placing the best teachers where they are needed most, or the value of teaching a child how to handle conflict within himself, his family and his school-- be it through discipline or ADR workshops -- is to turn a blind eye to reality.
I have constantly stood
I have constantly stood up for kids being picked on only to have the principal and school cop let the culprits off the hook time and time again. The one thing the Philly schools refuses to teach kids is the Lesson of Consequences. Administrators are too often concerned with how to make things easy for themselves first. They could care less if letting troublemakers get away with their actions makes things harder for the teachers to be taken seriously. I have good kids refusing rewards activities because they become target for the bullies and the bullies know the administration will look the other way. When I have a child pass out dope to his classmates and his only punishment is to be switched to another class it's time to get some people with backbone into the administration. The get tough mentality we will hopefully see with Nutter taking over also needs to be applied to our schools. Too many principals want to collect a paycheck and let the noontime aides (who often want to be the kids' buddies so they can keep selling them candy) run the school for them. Take the discipline matters away from the principals who refuse to tackle the job and let the teachers run it. We know how important it is and how it impacts on our teaching.
It's a little hard to have a race riot when your schools are often segregated already. I have stood up numerous times for girls who have been sexually harassed only to have the administration cover it up so the school can make its AYP goal.
Yes, more money would help (especially if it comes directly to the classrooms instead of the gravy pigs' Four Seasons tab), but the major shortage in Philadelphia schools is the deficit in backbones. Put corporal punishment back in half the school and then let the parents decide which school they want their kids to go to each day. A paddling doesn't seem so bad when compared to being shot or raped while at school. The lack of respect we see for the police actually begins in Philadelphia's classrooms when teachers are shown disrespect by unruly children, their indulgent parents and self-serving administrators.