State and federal agencies place many mandates on local school districts through regulations and laws without

providing the financial resources to pay for the costs of implementation. These obligations are commonly called unfunded mandates.

The Truth About Unfunded Mandates

The Truth About Education Funding

Federal funding (your tax dollars) more than doubled since 1997
($33.5 billion to $69.9 billion in 2011) ($13 to $26 billion)

Prevailing Wage

Prevailing wage requirements for construction projects exceeding $25,000 increase costs to taxpayers by 10-20% Taxpayers (YOU) pay $1.3 to $2.5 billion more than you should each year This mandate increases the tax burden for the average family of four every year by $400 to $800

PA K-12 funding (your tax dollars) doubled in last 15 years PA districts spend an average of $14,000 per pupil
($182,000 K-12 taxpayer tuition)

Many mandates can be avoided by refusing state and federal grant money
Other mandates require action from legislators in Harrisburg. In 2011, a group of senators introduced a package of 18 bills to lift some of the 60 years worth of state mandates that drive up school districts costs, including: a two-year moratorium on the professional development mandate on allowing districts to hire registered nurses instead of certified school nurses, permitting districts to furlough teachers for economic reasons, prohibiting teacher strikes and prevailing wage reforms.

Stimulus Artificially and Temporarily Inflated Budgets in 09 & 10

Source: Pennsylvania Office of the Budget

Add red tape, paperwork, and expenditures for compliance management Federal Law (United States Code Title 20 - Education, Chapter 48) limits the authority of the federal government over states rights and prohibits the federal government from exercising any direction, supervision, or control over the curriculum and program of instruction in the public schools Even with these laws, since 1965, the federal government has been attempting to use federal grant money to entice states and school districts to adopt federal education standards Substantially expanded the federal role in education For districts accepting federal Title I grants, failing to meet annual guidelines are required to provide additional educational services including outside tutoring services at the expense of the district Federal education spending has increased nearly 64% since NCLB Has increased state and local governments annual paperwork burden by over 6,680,334 hours, at an estimated cost of over $141 million dollars On average, the additional annual taxpayer cost for state compliance is near $20 million $4.35 billion in incentives carved out of stimulus for states who adopt standards $14.5 billion in federal Title I money for low-income school districts could be tied to standards adoption (meaning if states dont adopt, federal grant money could be taken away) States who adopt Common Core standards receive waivers to NCLB requirements 45 states have adopted, including PA

Annual Funding for Basic Education ($ Billions)

The Truth About State and Federal Curriculum Standards

BASIC EDUCATION FUNDING FOR PA SINCE 2006

6 5.5 5 4.5 4 3.5 3

Prior Administrations Cut in State Funding

Current Administrations Budgets

No Child Left Behind (NCLB) (Adopted 2001)

Common Core Standards/Race to the Top (Adopted 2009)

07

08

09

10

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Fiscal Year

Stimulus

Basic Funding

Projected taxpayer cost to implement Common Core Standards in the next 7 years is $15.8 billion in the following areas:

Assessment (i.e. testing) $1.2 billion; Professional development $5.3 billion; Textbooks and instructional materials $2.5 billion; Technology infrastructure and support $6.9 billion; Unfunded mandate costs for performance-based compensation and reduced class sizes. Source: Pioneer Institute

$9.3 billion of state taxpayer funds are budgeted for public schools. This increase of $338.1 million (3.7%) creates the largest amount of funding for public schools in state history. School District Allentown East Penn Parkland Salisbury Twp. ALL LEHIGH VALLEY: State $ in 2011-12* State $ in 2012-13** % Increase $105,805,632 $19,480,915 $16,860,554 $4,545,185 $338,759,748 $109,109,709 $20,811,783 $18,645,061 $4,885,691 $356,143,027 3.12% 6.83% 10.58% 7.49% AVG: 5.83% $ Increase $3,304,077 $1,330,868 $1,784,507 $340,506 $17,383,279

The 2012-13 Budget INCREASES Total K-12 Education Funding

To meet Common Core Standards, PA is transitioning from PSSA Exams to Keystone Exams. Implementation of Keystone Exams could cost PA taxpayers $200 million.

Districts have already invested heavily in preparation for these exams, but potential changes in the exams could make the millions already spent go to waste. States participating in these programs forfeit local and parental control over curriculum and the education of their children and hands it over to bureaucrats in Washington DC. Common Core Standards / Race to the Top never came before Congress for public hearings, debate, and a floor vote.

www.leadershipforliberty.org or email PSBC@leadershipforliberty.org

Contact the Pennsylvania School Board Coalition

There are solutions and reforms available to strengthen public education while providing relief to taxpayers!

*Estimated Funding **Proposed 2012-13 Budget Source: http://www.education.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/newsroom/7234/p/1100265

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The Truth About Ratios & Performance

Since 2000, public schools added 35,821 additional staff while enrollment dropped by 35,510
Professional Staff vs. Enrollment
(25 per class size factor) 3,050 2,850 2,650 2,450 2,250 2,050 1,850 1,650 1,450 1,250
Enrollment Increase +3.09% Combined Data for: Allentown School District East Penn School District Parkland School District Salisbury School District Professional Staff Increased +20.02%

The majority of the increase in state education funding is going to Public School Employee Retirement System (PSERS)
School District State PSERS $ in 2011-12* Allentown East Penn Parkland Salisbury Twp. Lehigh Valley: $5,450,370 $2,117,277 $2,953,175 $555,852 $27,442,518 State PSERS $ % Increase in 2012-13** $8,565,076 $3,421,519 $4,640,817 $873,503 $43,219,298 57% 62% 57% 57% Increase Left for for Teachers Students $3,114,706 $1,304,242 $1,687,642 $317,651 $189,371 $26,626 $96,865 $22,855

Where is All Our Money Going?

While schools have been reducing their staff in recent years, most districts remain below the national average student-teacher ratio of 15.3 to 1. (NOTE: Ratio is different than average class size.) The U.S. Department of Education estimates the current average class size in the U.S. is 25 students. Avg. PA Elementary Class Size 22.2 students.
(Source: National Education Association)

*Estimated Funding **Proposed 2012-13 Budget

$15,776,780 $1,606,499 (91%) (9%)

Source: http://www.education.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/newsroom/7234/p/1100265

Increasing the pupil/teacher ratio in the U.S. by one student would save at least $12 billion per year in teacher salary costs alone.
(Source: Brookings Institute)

PSERS costs are 54% paid by state taxpayers (YOU) & 46% paid by school district tax-payers (YOU) Between the 2009-10 and the 2012-13 school years the average Pennsylvania homeowner/ household will pay $1,360 more in property and state tax for increased PSERS contributions.

Quality education depends more on effective use of teachers rather than classroom size.

Specifically, for Lehigh Valley Residents, this means by 2012-13 taxpayers will see:
School District Allentown City East Penn Parkland Salisbury Twp. Total School Property Tax Increase for PSERS* $740 $471 $588 $475 State Funding Increase for PSERS & SERS $808 $808 $808 $808 Total Funding Increase Per Household $1,548 $1,279 $1,396 $1,283
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Despite increased federal and state funding and increased staffing, student performance has stagnated. A 2010 study by 21st Century Partnership for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Education (21PSTEM) compared 11th grade scores on Pennsylvania state tests with district per-student spending found low-spending districts often outperformed high-spending ones. Since 2000, U.S. students have remained unchanged in reading literacy. Compared to international peers, U.S. students dropped from 15th to 25th place in Math. The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), the national exam used to compare state performance, has changed little.

STAFFING

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ENROLLMENT (25 per class factor)

Source: PA Dept of Education

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Student Performance Stagnates

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*Illustrates combined Commercial and Residential property tax increases for PSERS on a per homeowner basis since it is ultimately individuals and families not businesses or corporations that shoulder the burden of all taxes. Sources: The Commonwealth Foundation; PSERS; Office of Fiscal Management; Pennsylvania Department of Education; Property Tax Reduction Allocations 2008-09

School district (i.e. taxpayer) contributions to PSERS will more than triple in the next 4 years from $1 billion to $3.5 billion

These increased costs bring: NO increase school programs NO increase in staff levels NO improvement in productivity NO reduction in class size NO expectation of improved classroom performance

These facts have shocked many school board members, and prompted the following exchange at a recent school board meeting in Easton:
Source: The Huffington Post, Flip the Curve by Bill Gates.

Pennsylvania NAEP Proficiency Rate

100% 80% 60% 40% 20% 0% 2003 2005 2007 2009

4th Grade Reading 8th Grade Reading 4th Grade Math 8th Grade Math

Simonetta b Moskaitis asked Board member Bo ze uld stand if you fro where the district wo , except for the xt three years everything for the ne ers union. ligations of the teach an 11 contractual ob cessitate close to still ne Such a thing would the budget, rease to manage percent total tax inc ble? Moskaitis How is that sustaina Simonetta said. would say dont think anyone asked Simonetta. I a said. budget, Simonett this is a sustainable
Source: http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/easton/index. ssf/2012/04/easton_area_school_district_ma_3.html

Reforming PSERS to a defined contribution plan (like your 401K) would save almost $25,000 per household over the next 16 years