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Accountability Block Grant

Accountability Block Grant Funding
March 2007

Presented to Senate Education Committee
By Thomas J. Gentzel, PSBA Executive Director

Good morning, my name is Thomas J. Gentzel and I am executive director of the Pennsylvania School Boards Association. Thank you for inviting PSBA to testify on the proposed changes to the Accountability Block Grant program.

When Governor-elect Rendell first came into office, his plan for education included more than a dozen programs, ranging from early childhood education to a variety of initiatives to promote student achievement. PSBA was one of the early supporters of a new block grant that allowed school districts to use the appropriated funds based on a menu of allowable options, including innovative local programs.

The Accountability Block Grant clearly has been a success, and it is widely supported in the education community. The governor, General Assembly and school district leaders all deserve credit for implementing a program that targets money where it is most needed. In our opinion, it has constituted a fair balance - directing money to meet state priorities while affording school officials broad discretion in how to apply those dollars to meet local needs.

Unfortunately, all new money for the Accountability Block Grant in the 2007-08 budget now is proposed to be used to establish, expand or maintain full-day Kindergarten or pre-Kindergarten programs, only. Districts that used ABG funds to create other eligible programs, such as class size reduction in kindergarten-3 rd grades, tutoring assistance, professional development, math and literacy coaching, science and applied knowledge skills, social and health services, and initiatives to increase student achievement among the sub-groups listed in the No Child Left Behind Act would be left on their own to fund any expansion or increased costs of these programs.

Gone, too, is the option for school boards to direct new ABG funds to other innovative programs designed to improve student achievement. Community decision-making about the use of these funds would be effectively removed from local elected officials.

The number of district services and initiatives at risk as a result of this proposed change in state policy is not insignificant. According to the Department of Education's own statistics, there are 682 programs that are funded with Accountability monies that are not full day or pre kindergarten programs. These programs serve over one million students in the Commonwealth's schools.

Moreover, many school districts that used their initial ABG funding to create full day and pre-kindergarten programs also are shortchanged. Those that established programs three years ago and have done a good job enrolling eligible children would have the least ability to expand. Consequently, they are effectively penalized by not having access to new ABG funding.

In addition, the governor's plan calls for creation of a competitive grant program for the larger portion of the new funding -- the $75 million earmarked for pre-Kindergarten programs. These dollars will not only be available to school districts but to Head Start programs, nursery schools and other child day care or group day care centers, as well. Unless funding recipients are subject to the same accountability and required to follow the identical rules and regulations that are imposed on school districts, an uneven playing field will exist.

PSBA also is concerned that allowing other entities to access funds that historically have been restricted to school districts would set a dangerous precedent, one that a future administration could expand in almost any program, not just the Accountability Block Grant.

PSBA believes that school districts should continue to be the sole recipients of these funds. Even if the money is used to contract with other agencies to provide the service, the school district can act as a layer of local accountability that could not be duplicated if these state dollars flowed directly to private providers. It would seem to be far more efficient for the department to deal with 501 school districts than with potentially thousands of private agencies with varying degrees of management capability, funding expertise or internal controls.

In our opinion, school boards have made wise decisions about the use of Accountability funds. The track record under this program demonstrates that to be the case. The General Assembly should recognize that local school officials have the best understanding of the programs and services needed in their communities. Their decisions should be respected, and the successful programs they produce should be allowed to grow and expand as new state dollars are appropriated.

In calling for the ABG program to be maintained with a broad degree of local discretion in the use of the funds, PSBA also reiterates its support for programs that serve our youngest children. The research on the effects of pre-K programs is clear. Our association has actively disseminated this information to our members and urged them to consider it as they have made decisions about the use of ABG funds. Indeed, many districts have implemented these programs and tell us they are making a positive difference.

All these dollars truly are an investment in the Commonwealth's future, and your decision about education funding should not be reduced to an either/or proposition. Our state has seen the impressive results of the investment of Accountability Block Grant funds in many effective school district programs, and it has seen the benefits of early childhood education. Both are important; both deserved to be supported, both should be funded.

Thank you.