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340 Manor Avenue,
Downingtown, PA 19335 610.269.8999 Fax: 610.269.2252 |
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Weekly Update
School Principal Sister Catherine Irene Masino, IHM
Link to Digital Monday Folder
containing Sister Catherine's Full Letter
Haiti support thank you letter from Superintendent Rochford
Dear ACE-PA Volunteer,
For many years, there was an understanding that the annual appropriations for nonpublic school textbooks, instructional materials and auxiliary services would increase at the same percentage rate as the state's public school basic education subsidy. Historically, when the governor's budget proposal was submitted, the agreement concerning equal percentage increases was respected in that document. Recently, however, this agreement has been completely disregarded. Increases in public school subsidies have not been mirrored in the nonpublic school appropriations.
In the 2009-2010 budget, the public school basic education subsidy increased by 5.7% while the nonpublic student programs were budgeted at the same level as last year.
On Tuesday, December 15, 2009, Governor Rendell held a mid-year budget-briefing press conference. During the briefing, he discussed a 1% across the board budget cut to all "discretionary line items." Rendell said there was a budget short fall of $217 million for the first five months of the year and predicted that the shortfall could grow to $230 million by year's end. He would not comment on exactly which discretionary lines items would be cut when questioned.
These proposed "discretionary line items" cuts are a major concern. Last year, nonpublic school appropriations were considered discretionary mid-year and received a budget cut. The administration did not make equivalent cuts to the public school subsidy. This exacerbated the growing inequity and further disadvantaged nonpublic schoolchildren. It is probable that our education line items are considered by this administration again to be discretionary line items, so we must speak up to stop possible cuts to nonpublic education. Please contact your legislators, the governor and the secretary of education and let them know that nonpublic education appropriations should not be considered discretionary and that nonpublic school students deserve the same consideration as public school students in the Commonwealth.
Go to the Pennsylvania Catholic Advocacy Network page on PCC's website to look up the contact information for your state officials,. http://www.pacatholic.org/current_issues/catholic-advocacy-network/
Visit, call, fax or write them a letter, or follow this link to send an e-mail message right now: http://www.votervoice.net/Groups/PACC/Advocacy/?IssueID=20219&SiteID=-1
Thanks for speaking out about this important Catholic education issue.
Sincerely,
Sean P. McAleer, MGA
Director of Education
PA Catholic Conference
223 North Street
Harrisburg, PA 17101
717.238.9613 Office
717.238.1473 Fax
Link to EITC Tax Credit Information- PA Business helping our schools
Please note that no personal phone numbers/contact information (unless included else where on the site) will be included on the web version of the update.
School Principal Sister Catherine Irene Masino, IHM
March 8, 2010
Link to Digital Monday Folder
containing Sister Catherine's Full Letter
Haiti support thank you letter from Superintendent Rochford
Dear ACE-PA Volunteer,
For many years, there was an understanding that the annual appropriations for nonpublic school textbooks, instructional materials and auxiliary services would increase at the same percentage rate as the state's public school basic education subsidy. Historically, when the governor's budget proposal was submitted, the agreement concerning equal percentage increases was respected in that document. Recently, however, this agreement has been completely disregarded. Increases in public school subsidies have not been mirrored in the nonpublic school appropriations.
In the 2009-2010 budget, the public school basic education subsidy increased by 5.7% while the nonpublic student programs were budgeted at the same level as last year.
On Tuesday, December 15, 2009, Governor Rendell held a mid-year budget-briefing press conference. During the briefing, he discussed a 1% across the board budget cut to all "discretionary line items." Rendell said there was a budget short fall of $217 million for the first five months of the year and predicted that the shortfall could grow to $230 million by year's end. He would not comment on exactly which discretionary lines items would be cut when questioned.
These proposed "discretionary line items" cuts are a major concern. Last year, nonpublic school appropriations were considered discretionary mid-year and received a budget cut. The administration did not make equivalent cuts to the public school subsidy. This exacerbated the growing inequity and further disadvantaged nonpublic schoolchildren. It is probable that our education line items are considered by this administration again to be discretionary line items, so we must speak up to stop possible cuts to nonpublic education. Please contact your legislators, the governor and the secretary of education and let them know that nonpublic education appropriations should not be considered discretionary and that nonpublic school students deserve the same consideration as public school students in the Commonwealth.
Go to the Pennsylvania Catholic Advocacy Network page on PCC's website to look up the contact information for your state officials,. http://www.pacatholic.org/current_issues/catholic-advocacy-network/
Visit, call, fax or write them a letter, or follow this link to send an e-mail message right now: http://www.votervoice.net/Groups/PACC/Advocacy/?IssueID=20219&SiteID=-1
Thanks for speaking out about this important Catholic education issue.
Sincerely,
Sean P. McAleer, MGA
Director of Education
PA Catholic Conference
223 North Street
Harrisburg, PA 17101
717.238.9613 Office
717.238.1473 Fax
Link to EITC Tax Credit Information- PA Business helping our schools
Please note that no personal phone numbers/contact information (unless included else where on the site) will be included on the web version of the update.