For Immediate Release
April 17, 2007
Contact: David Broderic
717-787-2637
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Senate Education Committee Votes to Provide
 Flexibility for Education Spending

HARRISBURG – Choosing local decision-making over mandatory spending programs, the Senate Education Committee today voted to fold a number of Governor Rendell's education spending proposals into the accountability block grant program, eliminating the need to fund them as stand-alone initiatives.

Committee chairman James J. Rhoades (R-29) offered the initiative as an amendment to Senate Bill 399, a proposal introduced by minority chairman Raphael Musto (D-14) to allow school districts to expend block grant funds on foreign language programs offered to elementary school students.

"Because the budget this year will be so tight, it is clear to me that we can not fund all of the education initiatives that the Governor has proposed," Rhoades said. "But we can give our school districts the option to fund these programs with whatever state funding is available to them through the accountability block grant program."

Rhoades' amendment inserted the Classrooms for the Future, Science, Its Elementary and Project 720 initiatives into the accountability block grant program as approved spending options. School districts already have the option to spend block grant funds on full-day kindergarten and pre-kindergarten programs.

"School districts are in the best position to make decisions about what works for their students," Rhoades added. "So, let's give them choices.  That is what the accountability block grant program is all about."

According to Rhoades, the Governor has proposed $216 million in appropriations for full-day kindergarten, pre-kindergarten, Classrooms for the Future, Science, Its Elementary and Project 720 as part of his FY 2007-2008 proposed budget.

The accountability block grant program was established in 2003 in order to provide school districts with state funds to finance any of ten approved initiatives.  Since FY 2003-2004, the General  Assembly has appropriated $650 million for the program.

"By giving our school districts options, we can promote local flexibility and fiscal responsibility," Rhoades said.  "Working as partners, the General Assembly and the school districts can promote initiatives that work for our students, without breaking the bank."