Basic Education Funding Commission report could add millions to Scranton SD; district staff outline potential $17.7M first-year boost

District staff briefed the recovery committee on the Basic Education Funding Commission's Jan. 11, 2024, report and what the commission's recommendations could mean for Scranton School District.

Pat (speaker 2), who provided the update, said the commission recommended an initial statewide investment of $871,000,000 to address adequacy gaps and proposed an additional $200,000,000 for the BEF funding formula in the first year. Pat said the commission suggested using multi-year averages to reduce volatility in the formula and would reconstitute the commission in 2029.

Using figures cited by the commission, Pat said the adequacy target per weighted student is $13,704 while Scranton School District's current expenditures per weighted student are $8,889, leaving an estimated adequacy gap of about $5,000 per student. "For the Scranton School District, in year 1...that would be an increase in our basic education funding for 24-25 of almost $17,700,000," Pat said, adding that those numbers reflect the commission's recommendation and would require adoption into the governor's budget and legislative approval.

Pat said the commission also proposed smoothing volatile inputs (for example, concentrated-poverty percentage) by using three-year averages and calculated adequacy targets for each district. The commission referenced existing budget items (Act 33 and Act 34 in the 23-24 budget) and competitive grant opportunities for school facilities and workforce supports.

Pat emphasized the district's conservative budgeting approach and said the commission's recommendations would need to be incorporated into the governor's 2024-25 budget, then approved by the General Assembly. "It would be quite impactful for the Scranton School District," Pat said; the committee offered no formal action and indicated they will monitor state budget developments.