Congress passes Education Jobs Fund and critical funding for states
Resources:
Thousands of teachers and education support professionals will keep their jobs in Pennsylvania schools and classrooms thanks to legislation passed by the U.S. House and Senate. President Obama signed the bill on August 10.
The U.S. House of Representatives and Senate passed H.R. 1586, the Education Jobs and Medicaid Assistance Act, legislation creating an Education Jobs Fund, and extending the increased federal match for Medicaid (FMAP) for states.
Pennsylvania Senators Bob Casey and Arlen Specter and Representatives Altmire, Brady, Carney, Critz, Dahlkemper, Doyle, Fattah, Holden, Kanjorski, Murphy (Patrick), Sestak, and Schwartz voted “Yes,” helping to pass the legislation.
"It is an important day for children in Pennsylvania and across the country," said PSEA President Jim Testerman. "The Education Jobs Fund will allow teachers and education support professionals to keep working hard to educate students."
"This funding is not only necessary to ensure that quality teaching and learning can continue in Pennsylvania’s school districts, but it also prevents funding cuts to programs which vulnerable Pennsylvanians rely on," Testerman said. "I can’t think of a time when a vote had more potential to make a positive impact on the lives of Pennsylvania families."
The federal Medicaid funding will send $668 million to Pennsylvania, which will help to stabilize the 2010-11 state budget passed in June. The Education Jobs Fund has the potential to save 5,900 education jobs.
This important House and Senate action comes at a critical time. Due to budgetary challenges, Pennsylvania districts have cut critical services and programs for students, and some have even closed schools. In many districts, class sizes will increase dramatically as a direct result of layoffs.
Such cutbacks put at risk recent gains in student achievement. These gains were the result of targeted investments in pre-k through 12th grade. In fact, Pennsylvania students’ reading and math scores are among the best in the nation, and no state scores higher in eighth grade reading, according to reports from independent researchers.
Please thank Senators Casey and Specter and Representatives Altmire, Brady, Carney, Critz, Dahlkemper, Doyle, Fattah, Holden, Kanjorski, Murphy (Patrick), Sestak, and Schwartz for their support of public education.