At PPC we seek results that are
achievable and part of that is working with policymakers from both sides
of the aisle to make Pennsylvania one of the top states to be a child
and to raise a child.
Yesterday the governor unveiled a
pragmatic budget proposal that strikes the right tone for working on
behalf of the state’s 2.8 million children, who are counting on
policymakers to develop public policies that are in their best interest.
Read on for our reaction to children’s investments in the governor’s 2019-20 state budget proposal.
K-12 Education
Career and Technical Education: There are 74 career and technical education centers educating 55,000 students across the Commonwealth. We recently released a report
urging funding increases in career and technical education and having
visited CTCs across the state, we have seen firsthand how crucial this
piece of the pie is for preparing our future workforce to make
meaningful contributions to our economy. The governor prioritized CTE by
proposing a $10 million increase because all students who wish to be
career-ready after graduation should have access to these programs.
Special Education: In the last
decade the state share of special education funding has fallen while
costs have increased. We support the proposed $50 million increase for
special education, as it will help schools cover the costs associated
with providing these critical supports for kids.
Basic Education: PPC supports the
proposed $168 million increase for basic education funding that the
governor included in his address. These dollars will be driven through
the basic education funding formula and is a step in the right direction
to increase the state’s share of funding.
Early Learning
Pre-k: No child gets a do-over and
every dollar invested in high-quality pre-k reaps significant cost
savings in the future in the form of less public spending on special
education, safety net programs and criminal justice. The governor’s
proposed $50 million increase for pre-k will expand access and allow
thousands more early learners to experience this once-in-a-lifetime
opportunity.
Child care: The most critical period
of brain development is in the first three years of life and, while
federal funding for high-quality child care programs is robust, more is
needed at the state level to ensure these programs are affordable and
all children have access to them. We hope that during budget
negotiations policymakers will recognize that investing in high-quality
child care will help all children grow, learn and succeed.
Home Visiting
Evidence-based home visiting is a
research-proven tool to support the development and safety of our most
vulnerable children and their families. The $5 million increase the
governor proposed for these programs is just a small step to address the
significant unmet need that still exists. We are appreciative of the
investment and will work with policymakers to maximize this opportunity
to invest in the children and families that need it the most.
Health Care
Due to recent federal action, the state is
now required to pick up additional costs associated with the CHIP
program as of the 2020-21 federal fiscal year, and this state budget
shows a commitment to covering those added costs. The state stepping in
to pick up the tab will ensure that the health care coverage and
benefits CHIP provides to children are not diminished.
Child Welfare
We are pleased to see continued support of
our county-administered child welfare system, with the governor
proposing a nearly $34 million increase.
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