News Release: Top 5 things you need to know about Gov. Wolf’s budget

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Top 5 things you need to know about Gov. Wolf’s budget

PCCY examines the Governor’s budget address for FY 2016/17
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PHILADELPHIA (February 9, 2016) – Here are our top 5 takeaways from today’s budget address in Harrisburg:
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  1. 85%: Governor Wolf proposes to restore nearly all the funds cut to Public Education since 2011:
    • In FY 2011, Governor Corbett cut nearly $1 billion in state aid to school districts. Some funds were restored since then, but without a full year budget in place, school districts could receive $630 million less this year than they did in 2011. Governor Wolf’s plan calls for the legislature to enact the bi-partisan budget agreement for this year, which would add $377 million in new state funds for schools and increase that funding by $200 million next year.
  2. $120 million in new funding for Pre-K for low- and middle-income children:
    • When 14,000 more children get high quality Pre-K, Pennsylvania saves $2 billion over a lifetime.
  3. 10,350 more students in class each day:
    • Studies show CHIP is also an attendance program: A 1% increase in CHIP enrollment sees a 0.17% increase in school attendance. Governor Wolf proposes increasing the share of kids enrolled in CHIP by approximately 3.5%.
  4. Reduced chance of neglect or child abuse by 50%:
    •  Governor’s budget invests $10M to expand evidence-based home visiting programs for 2000 vulnerable children.
  5. Another 1000 graduates with in-demand skills:
    • Governor Wolf’s budget proposes a new $28 million investment in high school technical education.
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CONTACT:
David Kim, davidk@childrenfirstpa.org
215- 900-9030 (c)
215-563-5848 ext. 23 (o)
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