Pennsylvania 2023-2024 Regular Session

Pennsylvania Senate Bill SB465

Introduced
3/14/23  

Caption

In reimbursements by Commonwealth and between school districts, providing for Level-Up Supplement for 2023-2024 school year.

Impact

If enacted, SB465 will affect how state funds are disbursed to school districts, specifically by introducing a mechanism that allocates additional resources to those deemed underfunded. This could lead to increased investments in educational programs, infrastructure, and other critical resources in schools that have historically struggled with funding. By addressing financial discrepancies, the bill aims to promote educational equity across the state, potentially leading to improved outcomes in districts that have been disadvantaged.

Summary

Senate Bill 465 aims to amend the Public School Code of 1949 by introducing a Level-Up Supplement for the 2023-2024 school year. This bill specifically targets school districts receiving less than a certain financial threshold, ensuring they receive a supplemental allocation aimed at helping them meet their educational funding needs. The proposed amendment seeks to establish equitable funding distribution among school districts in Pennsylvania, ensuring that those with lower funding levels can receive additional financial support. The allocation for qualifying districts is set at a substantial amount, aiming to enhance educational resources and opportunities for students.

Sentiment

The sentiment surrounding SB465 appears to be largely positive among educational advocates and certain lawmakers who recognize the need for equitable funding in education. Supporters argue that the implementation of the Level-Up Supplement is a necessary step towards ensuring all students, regardless of their district's wealth, have access to quality education. However, there may also be dissent from parties concerned about the sustainability of such funding measures and how they may impact the overall state budget in future years.

Contention

Notable points of contention include concerns about the long-term viability of the funding provided by the Level-Up Supplement and potential disagreements on what criteria should define 'qualifying' school districts. Some lawmakers may raise issues about the implications of increased state funding on local taxes or budget allocations. Others may argue about the fairness of how funding levels are calculated and distributed, highlighting ongoing debates over educational equity and resource allocation within the public education system.

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

PA HB1311

In reimbursements by Commonwealth and between school districts, providing for Level-Up Supplement for 2022-2023 school year.

PA HB114

In reimbursements by Commonwealth and between school districts, further providing for student-weighted basic education funding and for special education payments to school districts.

PA SB930

In reimbursements by Commonwealth and between school districts, further providing for student-weighted basic education funding.

PA SB1112

In reimbursements by Commonwealth and between school districts, providing for reimbursements for merged school districts.

PA HB2154

In reimbursements by Commonwealth and between school districts, providing for reimbursements for merged school districts.

PA HB2172

In reimbursements by Commonwealth and between school districts, providing for reimbursements for merged school districts.

PA HB2370

In preliminary provisions, providing for advertising and sponsorships; in charter schools, further providing for definitions, for charter school requirements and for funding for charter schools, providing for funding for cyber charter schools, for cyber charter school requirements, for powers and composition of board of trustees and for educational management service providers, further providing for powers and duties of department and for assessment and evaluation, providing for annual reports and public reporting and for fund balance limits, further providing for cyber charter school requirements and prohibitions and for school district and intermediate unit responsibilities, providing for access to other schools' facilities, further providing for establishment of cyber charter school, providing for renewals, for charter amendments and for causes for nonrenewal, revocation or termination, further providing for State Charter School Appeal Board review, for cyber charter school application and for enrollment and notification, providing for enrollment parameters and for enrollee wellness checks and further providing for applicability of other provisions of this act and of other acts and regulations; and, in reimbursements by Commonwealth and between school districts, further providing for student-weighted basic education funding, providing for adequacy and tax equity supplements and for accountability to Commonwealth taxpayers and further providing for Pennsylvania accountability grants.

PA HB1225

In reimbursements by Commonwealth and between school districts, further providing for payments on account of pupil transportation.

PA SB700

In preliminary provisions, providing for advertising and sponsorships; in intermediate units, further providing for school safety and security enhancements; in professional employees, further providing for qualifications; in certification of teachers, further providing for State certificates, for career and technical instruction and for baccalaureate certification basic skills assessment; in Educator Pipeline Support Grant Program, further providing for definitions, for program establishment and duties of agency, for eligibility and for report; in school safety and security, further providing for School Safety and Security Grant Program, for school safety and security coordinator, for Targeted School Safety Grants for Nonpublic Schools and School Entities Program and for school safety and security training and providing for school safety and mental health grants for 2024-2025 school year; in school security, further providing for duties of commission, providing for school security personnel and establishing School Security Personnel Fund; in school security, further providing for duties of commission and providing for school security personnel and for School Security Personnel Fund; in school health services, further providing for vision screening and examinations; in Drug and Alcohol Recovery High School Program, further providing for establishment and payment of tuition; in administrative partnerships between school entities, further providing for legislative intent and for definitions, providing for instructional programming partnerships authorized, for school district feasibility study and for construction and further providing for establishment, for application, for grant awards, for technical assistance, for reports by school entities and for reports by department; in talent recruitment, further providing for Talent Recruitment Account; in charter schools, further providing for definitions, for charter school requirements, for powers of board of trustees, for facilities and for funding for charter schools, providing for funding for cyber charter schools, further providing for enrollment and notification and providing for enrollee wellness checks and for applicability of other provisions of this act and of other acts and regulations; in disability inclusive curriculum, further providing for department responsibilities; in Schools-to-Work-Program, repealing provisions relating to expiration; in community colleges, further providing for financial program and reimbursement of payments; in educational tax credits, further providing for definitions, for qualification and application by organizations, for tax credits and for limitations, repealing provisions relating to opportunity scholarships and providing for economically disadvantaged school scholarships; in course materials at institutions of higher education, repealing provisions relating to College Textbook Policies Advisory Committee; in sexual violence, dating violence, domestic violence and stalking education, prevention and response at institutions of higher education and private licensed schools, further providing for memorandum of understanding; in miscellaneous provisions relating to institutions of higher education, repealing provisions relating to Public Higher Education Funding Commission; in funding for public libraries, providing for State aid for fiscal year 2024-2025; in reimbursements by Commonwealth and between school districts, further providing for payments on account of pupils enrolled in career and technical curriculums and for student-weighted basic education funding, providing for student-weighted basic education funding beginning with 2023-2024 school year, further providing for State reimbursement for health services, for payments to intermediate units, for assistance to school districts declared to be in financial recovery status or identified for financial watch status and for Commonwealth reimbursements for charter schools and cyber charter schools, repealing provisions relating to administrative and instructional consolidation incentives and further providing for Ready-to-Learn Block Grant; in State Board of Education, further providing for powers and duties of the board; in construction and renovation of buildings by school entities, further providing for applicability; in School Environmental Repairs Program, further providing for School Environmental Repairs Program Restricted Account and for School Environmental Repairs Program; and making editorial changes.

PA HB2313

In reimbursements by Commonwealth and between school districts, providing for school district reorganization study.

Similar Bills

AR SB425

To Amend Various Provisions Of The Arkansas Code Concerning Enhanced Transportation; And To Declare An Emergency.

KY SB3

AN ACT relating to redistricting and declaring an emergency.

AR HB1238

To Amend Various Provisions Of The Arkansas Code Concerning Enhanced Transportation Funding Amounts; And To Declare An Emergency.

NH HB50

Apportioning state representative districts.

KY SB2

AN ACT relating to redistricting and declaring an emergency.

KY HB2

AN ACT relating to redistricting and declaring an emergency.

CA AB1719

Housing: Community College Faculty and Employee Housing Act of 2022.

MS HB1311

Seventh Circuit Court District; revise number of assistant district attorneys and criminal investigators.