Wolf touts investment in education at Coebourn Elementary
BROOKHAVEN >> Gov. Tom Wolf stopped by Coebourn Elementary School in Brookhaven Wednesday afternoon to tout the successes of public education before local schools open their doors for a new year next week.
The Democratic governor said he was there to “brag” about public institutions like Coebourn and the billions of dollars he has added to education funding in the five years he has served in Harrisburg.
“The future of Pennsylvania runs through places just like this, and if we don’t do what we need to do in places like Harrisburg then shame on us because we’re not doing what we need to do for our future,” said Wolf. “There is not a whole lot that government should do in a system like ours, but making sure we have a world–class education system has got to be, for me, the top priority.
“We have a long way to go get there in Pennsylvania, but we have done some things. I’m proud that in the five budgets that I’ve been part of we have actually brought 1.2 billion new dollars in K-12 education.”
In the state budget that Wolf signed for 2019-20, $160 million was added to basic education with a $50 million boost for special education. Approximately $80 million was added in funding for Pre-K, Head Start, career and technical programs, and other education programs for the year.
In 2016, Wolf signed into law a basic education funding formula that appropriates new education dollars in the state budget to school districts based on their wealth, number of English language learners, students in poverty and other factors.
He was one of the state officials named as a defendant in a school funding lawsuit lead by the William Penn School District but publicly declared his support for the plaintiffs last year and for a fairer funding scheme for school districts. That case is expected to go to trial in the Commonwealth Court next summer.
A number of speakers at Wednesday’s event complimented Wolf for making the investment.
“We are grateful that for a second year in a row you pledged to continue funding for career and technical education,” said Sun Valley High School and building trades technical student Nick Stamper. “This increase will give more students access to career and technical opportunities and support the purchase of new equipment for handson training for careers that are in demand now.”
Proficiency and certification in a career or trade is one of the new ways students will be able to graduate high school over the Keystone Exam requirements starting with the graduating class of 2022.
Upper Darby parent Jasmine Poole said the $50 million single year boost in special education funding will be an asset to her son who is non-verbal and needs augmented instruction to communicate with others.
“Thanks to special education funding he has received a special needs education for the past seven years,” said Poole. “Increasing special education funding will allow for more services, more staff and more support for him while in school. Although he has made progress with his programming at school, I can recall times where I had to viciously advocate and argue for increase service hours and ADA therapy to accommodate his needs currently.
“I am thankful for you, Gov. Wolf, in securing this historic $50 million increase in special education funding. It will help to ensure families like mine are not an afterward, but at the forefront of Pennsylvania’s public education system.”
Donna Cooper of Public Citizens for Children and Youth said there has been a rebirth of capacity of student capabilities.
“Today we celebrate you (Wolf), because you have faith in our kids and you have faith in education,” she said. “We call on the colleagues of Governor Wolf to stand with the PA Schools Work campaign to consider this nothing less than a crusade to give every child the tools to be ready to responsibly lead the commonwealth in the years ahead.”