A huge hole: State funding is far less than expected

by Paul Socolar

When the School District drew up a budget last spring with an increase in spending of 11 percent – more than $300 million – it looked like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Philadelphia to close the gap with surrounding districts in areas like class size and student-counselor ratios.

The unprecedented infusion of federal stimulus money and state aid seemed too good to be true.

And it was.

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Needed: A seamless system

We know from decades of research that quality early childhood education is the most cost-effective way to improve a child’s performance in school and in life.

So it makes no sense that the United States still treats early education as a luxury or add-on.

While public education in grades K-12 is an entitlement for all, no branch of government has acted to guarantee every child access to a quality preschool experience. As a result, Philadelphia can provide only enough pre-K slots for one-fourth of the eligible children.

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