In his budget address in March, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro issued a call to action to put our kids' education front and center in budget negotiations. As he said then: "This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for us to do right by our kids, to fund our schools, and to empower parents to put their kids in the best position for them to succeed."

            In a press release issued last week by the Governor's office, the budget will deliver on that promise.  It includes a $567 million increase in Basic Education Funding (BEF) for Pennsylvania school districts to be distributed through the BEF Formula.  That will enable all school districts to have the basic resources they need to provide a high-quality education for Pennsylvania students; a $50 million increase in special education funding, reinforcing Pennsylvania's commitment to equitable education for all students; and a $46.5 million increase to provide universal free breakfast to 1.7 million Pennsylvania public school students. 

            The universal free breakfast will provide free breakfast to the 1.7 million students in Pennsylvania's public schools and also provide free lunch to all 22,000 students who are eligible for reduced-price lunches through the National School lunch program.

            Montgomery County schools will receive $20.9 million from the state.

            Montgomery County school districts in the Town and Country readership and the increased amounts they will receive include: Perkiomen Valley, $654,786 (BEF) and $82,424 (Special Education Funding); Pottstown, $2,423,965 (BEF) and $185,766 (Special Education Funding; Souderton, $967,185 (BEF) and $132,373 (Special Education Funding); and Upper Perkiomen, $682,305 (BEF) and $68,383 (Special Education Funding) 

            In addition, school districts in the Town and Country receiving Ready to Learn Block Grants and the amounts include: Perkiomen Valley - $506,099; Pottstown - $559,007; Souderton - $524,477; and Upper Perkiomen - $378,374.