Improving Education

By Dominic Pileggi

The key to establishing a growing economy, safer streets and a brighter future is investing in Pennsylvania's children. We need to make better decisions about how we allocate Pennsylvania's school funding to give our students the best possible education.

With the hard work of Senator Pileggi, Senate Republicans pushed for the current plan which ensures that every school district in Pennsylvania receive a minimum 3 percent increase in its basic education subsidy. Within the 9th Senatorial District, basic education funding has increased by $9.3 million and Special Education funding has increased by $540,500

The Pennsylvania System of Higher Education also received increases with in the budget. During the 2008-09 fiscal year they will receive an increase of $15 million for a total of $519.2 million. Senator Pileggi has worked hard for funding for our colleges and universities within the Commonwealth so that our students have access to affordable quality institutions of higher learning.

Senator Pileggi firmly believes that we need to demand more accountability from Pennsylvania's Department of Education and require the Department's Administration to report on the processes and progress of our public education system. This will assure that our tax dollars are being spent effectively and efficiently. Senator Pileggi supports Senate Bill 805, which requires the Department to annually submit a report on the operation of the education assistance program which will be made available on the Department's website.

The legislation requires the report to include:

• A listing of approved education assistance providers and a listing of each eligible school that has entered into a contract with the provider

• The number of students for whom tutoring services were provided, by grade level.

• An assessment of academic progress conducted by the Department.