WARMINSTER, Pa. - Educators in Bucks County demanded full and fair funding of public education across the state in the wake of a judge's ruling that called the Commonwealth's funding formula ‘unconstitutional.’Educators, community members, religious leaders and some students gathered outside William Tennent High School in Bucks County’s Centennial School District on Thusday to tout their message of fair and full funding for state schools. "I can tell you that our current system is inadequate and the quality of education one receives is too heavily dependent on the zip code they live in too heavily dependent on a zip code and property wealth," Superintendent of the Centennial School District Dr.
Dana Bedden said.The wealthier the community, the better the schools. In February, a state judge ruled Pennsylvania’s school funding model is "unconstitutional", saying that it denies students in poorer districts a quality education.
These educators want more state money now, and they had students make the case.MORE LOCAL HEADLINESJamar Mitchell is a William Tennent High School senior on his way to Penn State to study engineering.
Mitchell argued, "clubs, sports and other extracurricular activities are not being funded in an equitable manner. So, students across the state are not at a level playing field." Governor Josh Shapiro is offering a nearly $570M increase in basic education funding and a $104M dollar jump in spending for special education, calling it a "downpayment" in a "multistep" plan to invest in schools.That seemingly large investment in public education was not received well by a local children's advocacy group.