NON-PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND THE 2010-2011 EDUCATION BUDGET
This month, all the talk in Harrisburg is about Governor Rendell’s proposed 2010-2011 state budget. Here are the dollars proposed for education:
| Year | 2008-2009 | 2009-2010 | 2010-2011 | % Change from last year |
| Public School Subsidy | *5,226,142 | 4,871,339 | 5,226,142 | 7.28% |
| Services to Non-public | *87,257 | 89,082 | 91,933 | 3.2% |
| Textbooks, Materials | *26,543 | 27,243 | 28,115 | 3.2% |
| The EITC Program | 75,000 | 60,000 | 50,000 | 13% |
* The figures above identify the state portions spent on that individual line item. It does not show the Federal Stimulus allocations that were used to increase public education. Last year the public subsidy received about $629 million from the Stimulus.
* The figures shown above depict the actual budget numbers without any cuts that occurred during the year.
This is just the start of the long budget process, so all figures above can be modified before the final budget allocation. The state legislature will break from session for a series of hearings on the state budget. As negotiations develop, ACE-PA will keep you informed of action. Together we will work to ensure that non-public school students are treated fairly and equitably in the state budget. Stay tuned!
CATHOLIC EDUCATION PRIORITIES
In addition to achieving equity in education funding for all students in Pennsylvania, the Pennsylvania Catholic Conference has several other priorities in 2010. One is to restore the $75 million for the Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) program. The EITC program is the largest education scholarship program offered to Catholic school students in Pennsylvania. EITC received a $15 million (20%) cut in the 2009-2010 budget cycle; it is scheduled to receive an additional $10 million cut in the 2010-2011 budget cycle. We need to stop the cuts and restore the funding to the EITC program.
Another priority is to monitor the American Recovery and Relief Act (ARRA), or federal stimulus package, in Pennsylvania. The second and final installment of the federal stimulus dollars will be released to Pennsylvania this year. We must ensure that the proportionate share of those funds for non-public schools is allotted.
Finally, to achieve any of our goals we must build the ACE-PA advocacy network.
GET INVOLVED, HELP US GROW
ACE-PA is one of the most important tools we have to influence public policy. With your participation, we can truly change Catholic education in Pennsylvania. Thank you to coordinators and active advocates for your time and attention, and welcome to all our new ACE-PA members. We added 52 new members to the network this month, which is fantastic! Help us grow by inviting fellow parents, teachers, pastors, young adults, family members and anyone who cares about Catholic education to join our effort. Forward this update to them and encourage them to follow this link to sign up.
You can also provide a link and special graphic to Catholic school administrators, so they can place the link on their schools website. For download instructions, go to https://www.pacatholic.org/current_issues/catholic-advocacy-network/ace-pa/
To check to see if your contact information is accurate please click here. In the Quick Login Screen, type in your e-mail address and zip code and check the View/Edit box. The next screen will allow you to update our record of your information. Catholic education is among the many issues with which the PCC gets involved. Are you interested in other Catholic public policy issues? PCC also advocates on issues of religious liberty, life and the dignity of the human person, marriage and family, social justice, health care, and faith and politics during the election cycle. Check any and all of the categories on the sign-up screen to receive updates on each of them.
The future of Catholic education in Pennsylvania depends on all of us. If you have any suggestions on improving ACE-PA or increasing our membership, please contact me at smcaleer@pacatholic.org
