Senate Amendments to House Bill 1416 could slash education funding by more than $700 million

On Monday evening, the PA Senate passed an amended version of House Bill 1416 that "turns back the clock" on this year's budget process, and on PA schools. The amendment slashes education funding by more than $700 million. With the amendment, HB 1416 closely resembles Senate Bill 850, proposed earlier in the process. Just like SB 850, this has deep cuts in state funding for education. The federal dollars included do not benefit all students. Federal dollars DO NOT go toward smaller class sizes. They do not go toward improving academic achievement for all students. They do not make up for the cuts in state funding, and turn back the clock on our schools to 05-06 levels.

What You Can Do

The revised budget bill, HB 1416, now goes back to the House of Representatives for review. PSEA members should contact your State Representatives today! Urge them to increase state funding for our schools by the $418 million outlined in our state's funding formula. If the General Assembly does not move forward with the funding reforms established last year, valuable education programs will be cut and property taxes will increase across the Commonwealth. Please encourage your Representatives to fund the future of PA schools and kids by asking them to oppose the Senate amendments to Bill 1416. Act now- time is running out!