When Gov. Tom Corbett unveiled his 2012-2013 budget last week, he repeated his call to reform the education system by providing financial flexibility to local school districts while increasing funding for basic education. Two key changes related to budget dollars would directly impact school bus transportation across Pennsylvania.
First, the governor’s proposed budget commits $1.7 million in state and federal funds to improve data collection, as a more accurate accounting of student attendance will boost the coffers of public schools, and thus their transportation departments.
“This budget will provide school districts across Pennsylvania the flexibility that is needed in these difficult economic times,” said Secretary of Education Ron Tomalis.
Another major change in the education budget would streamline revenue distribution for the majority of basic education funding by creating one line item known as the Student Achievement Education Block Grant. Essentially, Basic Education Funding, Pupil Transportation, Nonpublic and Charter School Pupil Transportation and School Employees’ Social Security would be consolidated into one line item totaling $6.51 billion — which represents an increase of $21.8 million as compared to the same line items in the 2011-2012 budget.
This specific change is designed to provide “flexibility to local decision-makers regarding how to best meet the broad requirements in the areas of school transportation, school staffing and federal law,” the Department of Education said in a statement. The switch to a block grant would also eliminate certain categorical reporting.
But, at least one student transportation professional is still not sold on the benefits of the new school funding formula. Tim Ammon, a consultant with Management Partnership Services Inc. in Rockville, Md., noted that grouping this funding into one lump sum could lead to a struggle for resources after years of teacher layoffs and program cutbacks.
“The change to a block grant structure is likely to have a significant impact on how school districts will manage transportation expenditures,” said Ammon, who has extensive experience in analyzing transportation and fleet management operations. “Given that there will no longer be a designated offset for transportation costs, it is likely that the competition for funds will increase.”
Joan Benso, CEO and president of the nonprofit Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children, is also skeptical of the new Student Achievement Education Block Grant, which she stated would mean less funding for public schools, not more.
“A number of line items to fund public education services have been blended into a newly created Student Achievement Education Block Grant, resulting in a net loss of more than $78 million to meet the public education needs of Pennsylvania’s children,” said Benso.
She also criticized the governor’s plan to cut more than $30 million from early learning programs. Additionally, the elimination of the Accountability Block Grant program will likely mean fewer children benefit from full-day kindergarten, according to Benso.
“As a candidate for governor, Tom Corbett vowed to make early childhood education funding a priority, yet halfway through his term, we see no signs of that campaign pledge being put into action,” Benso said. “Every year that goes by with inadequate funding for early childhood education is another year of missed opportunities for tens of thousands of young Pennsylvanians.”
