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Classrooms for the Future

Timothy Allwein
PSBA Assistant Executive Director of Governmental and Member Relations

Good morning. My name is Timothy Allwein and I am the Assistant Executive Director of Governmental and Member Relations for the Pennsylvania School Boards Association (PSBA). I’d like to thank Chairmen Rhoades, Wonderling, Musto and Williams for inviting PSBA to testify at today’s hearing on the Classrooms for the Future program.

Twenty-first century workforce employees are expected to be computer literate, and consequently incorporating technology into Pennsylvania’s classrooms has been and continues to be one of districts’ foremost priorities. The Classrooms for the Future program has taken the implementation of classroom technology to a new level and it is impossible to find a school board member or administrator in a participating district who does not support this valuable educational program.

In the mid-1990s, when it became obvious that governmental, parental, student and market demand were going to require districts to invest millions of dollars to expand computer access in public school districts, our school boards asked themselves: How do we get more computers in our classrooms? While some districts had the financial capabilities to purchase computers and other necessary technology for classrooms, others were able to gain donations from companies. Today, with continuous advances in technology and software our school boards now ask themselves: How can we afford to keep computers in classrooms? Budgeting for technology programs and equipment has become an even more complicated process with continuous improvements in software and hardware and the need to sustain technology programs in public school districts. As a result, districts must factor in expenses for: hardware, software, adequate personnel, professional development, replacement of hardware and/or software, connectivity, supplies and disposables, and the retrofitting of physical plants. All of these items continue to annually increase the cost of districts’ technology programs.

While the Classrooms for the Future program provides funds for many of the upfront costs associated with technology programs, grant recipients are not authorized to use such funds for maintenance expenses. PSBA understands that participating school districts must agree to finance these costs before they can be accepted into the program. The association does not object to this provision, but it is concerned that such a policy could make it very difficult for poor school districts to qualify, especially within the Act 1 environment. PSBA hopes that in the future the General Assembly would consider expanding the breadth of the program to encompass all costs associated with technology, including the cost to maintain and replace out-of-date hardware and software so school officials are able to ensure the continued existence and maintenance of technology programs for all students PSBA and its members believe that Classrooms for the Future is an important step for the Commonwealth in its efforts to support student instruction in way that prepares students for post-secondary education and careers, and provide training for administrators and teachers to help facilitate technology into everyday classroom instruction. With that said, PSBA also believes it is necessary for the legislature to examine education funding priorities moving forward, beginning with the 2008-2009 state budget. The current budget for 2007-08 commits $90 million to the Classrooms of the Future program. This is an increase in spending of $70 million for the program over 2006-2007 levels. PSBA does not take issue with the administration’s efforts and financial commitment to provide districts with targeted funds to transform our high school classrooms. However, the association is concerned that the funding increase for Classrooms for the Future is 2.4 times more than the funding increase in the special education subsidy. This year’s budget only commits an additional $29.4 million to special education – an expensive mandate for all 501 school districts.

The results from the reporting of Act 1 referendum exceptions shows that the special education was the one exception most often utilized. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, one hundred and forty-four school districts received Act 1 exceptions for special education expenses. This tells PSBA that the 2.89% increase in special education funding in 2006-2007 was not enough to sustain districts’ mandated special education programs without seeking additional dollars from property taxpayers in at least 144 school districts. In all likelihood, the current year’s 3% increase won’t change much since expenditures for special education continue to increase. PSBA recommends that the General Assembly adjust the amount of funds committed to the Classrooms for the Future program. While the association and its members believe the program should continue to be funded, we also maintain that the school districts and the General Assembly must first finance costs of programs that are mandated by federal or state law or regulation. If the Commonwealth increased its financial support of special education, perhaps those districts that sought exceptions in February and March wouldn’t need to go to their local taxpayers for additional funds.

In conclusion let me say that PSBA is loathe to complain about any kind of school funding, particularly when it can be shown to contribute in a positive way to the education of children. While funding for technology is certainly a bonus, and the districts that received it have relayed to us the fact that it was important to them, we should not continue to increase funding in these areas without addressing the continuing shortfalls for basic mandated services like special education, where all districts, without exception, are experiencing increasing costs.

PSBA looks forward to working with the members of both committees in the coming weeks to ensure that the proper funding balance is realized for competitive categorical funding programs and increasing mandated expenses, particularly special education. Thank you again for having me here today and I would be happy to answer any of your questions. :