Dive Brief:
- Incoming Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf has appointed Pedro Rivera, a former Philadelphia School District administrator and current Lancaster superintendent, to serve as the state's education secretary.
- Given the number of financially strapped districts in the state, like Philadelphia, some education advocates hope Rivera's background will bring much-needed change.
- Wolf says he selected Rivera because of recognition for his "efforts to improve urban education" and commitment to strong public education. Rivera was also honored in September by the White House as one of the nation's top Hispanic leaders.
Dive Insight:
Wolf's predecessor, Gov. Tom Corbett, has been blamed with slashing the state's education spending by $1 billion—a move that has resulted in constantly struggling districts lacking basic resources. This problem has resulted in not just frustration, but responsive action. Grassroots organizations have become increasingly visible in the saga over Pennsylvania's education funding.
Recently, a number of districts, parents, and the state's NAACP chapter filed a lawsuit against Corbett, state education officials, and legislative leaders, alleging the state violated its constitution by failing to provide adequate education for its students. The lawsuit was based on the state's school funding formula, which the plaintiffs claimed doesn't allow for necessary resources to be purchased and also discriminates against low-income neighborhoods. Pennsylvania is one of only a few states that doesn't have a funding formula system in place, which means there is often a heavy reliance on property taxes. According to Philly.com, the gap in per-pupil spending ranges from $9,800 to $28,400, depending on where a student lives.
While Philadelphia Public Schools, the state's biggest school district, was not involved in the lawsuit, it has had its fair share of financial constraints and troubles. In December, the district — which has been in the red for a couple of years now — revealed a new, no-frills, five-year spending plan with a projected revenue increase of only 1% over the next five years. The overall strategy: "just get by."
This "get by" status quo is something education advocates in the state hope Rivera can help fix. There is also a belief that Rivera can help with the strained relationship between the Philadelphia School Reform Commission and the city's teachers' union. In October, after 21-months of negotiations, the five-person SRC, in charge of Philadelphia Public Schools, decided to exit union contracts and demand more pay from teachers to cover health benefits.