For further information contact:
David Broderic (717) 255-7169
Wythe Keever (717) 255-7107
HARRISBURG (June 30, 2017) – Pennsylvania State Education Association President Jerry Oleksiak today released the following statement related to expected passage of the commonwealth’s FY 2017-18 state budget, which includes key public school funding priorities.
“This budget includes key funding for public schools and is another significant step toward ensuring that our schools and students have the resources they need. I commend Gov. Wolf for his leadership and the bipartisan approach that he and lawmakers took to getting this done.
“Working together in a bipartisan way, our elected officials succeeded in building a budget that makes key investments in our public schools and the students who learn there.”
The budget agreement includes key public school spending priorities, including:
- A $100 million increase in basic education funding.
- A $25 million increase in special education funding.
- A $30 million increase in pre-kindergarten funding.
- Restoration of $50 million in cuts to school transportation funding.
“Funding public education is always one of PSEA’s top priorities. Thanks to PSEA members speaking out about this, Gov. Wolf’s leadership, and a bipartisan coalition of lawmakers committed to public schools, we will soon have a state budget that meets that priority.”
Oleksiak is a special education teacher in the Upper Merion Area School District. An affiliate of the National Education Association, PSEA represents approximately 180,000 future, active and retired teachers and school employees, and health care workers in Pennsylvania.
