Letting our Kids Down

Children don't teach themselves. They learn from parents. From teachers. From books and science experiments. Children come to our schools with a spirit of learning, and it's our responsibility as elected school board members to make certain we provide them with the resources and opportunities to learn as much as they can during their journey with us.

I've been a school board member for 11 years, and I've never witnessed a more difficult time than this year. We are close to losing valuable federal resources that have served to sustain us during the economic recession. Furthermore, all school districts have realized significant shortfalls in local school tax revenues and interest earnings totaling $343 million this year.

Almost one-quarter of districts across the state and more than half (52 percent) of the districts in southeastern PA have approved or proposed cuts in order to balance their budgets for the next school year. Due to these lost revenues, school districts have made cuts all the while counting on the General Assembly to maintain its commitment to basic education and the school funding formula for the third year in a row. These cuts will mean larger class sizes and less time for individualized attention and instruction. Full-day kindergarten, pre-K, special education, foreign languages, as well as cutbacks in teaching positions, transportation, technology and extra-curricular activities are all on the chopping block.

Everyone must tighten their belts as a result of these financial times. But without additional state support for basic education, the quality of public education will erode. Sixty-six percent of districts statewide reported in a recent survey that they will cut instructional staff and a third said they will cut instructional programs for the next school year. These cuts, already approved by districts, and the ones we will be forced to make if we don't receive adequate state funding, are driving at the heart of children's educational foundation.

Has the General Assembly's school funding formula made a difference? You bet it has. In 2009, the Center for Education Policy identified Pennsylvania as the only state that saw increases in student achievement in elementary, middle and high school from 2002 to 2008 in reading and math for all groups of students. Resources matter! To keep that progress on track and to help prevent further damage to students' education programs, opportunities, services and achievement, the 2010-11 state budget needs to include a $354.8 million increase for basic education funding. Investments in education are a down payment on the Commonwealth's future – our children. Let's not let them down.

Larry Feinberg is a third term school director in Haverford Township and also serves as Chairman of the Delaware County School Board's Legislative Council.