Harrisburg, PA. Dr. Khalid Mumin, Secretary of the Pennsylvania Dept. of Education (PDE), speaks during Thursday’s event. Officials with the Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs (DDAP) and Department of Education (PDE), joined students at Central Dauphin School District (CDSD) to highlight their evidence-based substance use disorder (SUD) prevention program and remind schools of the mental health resources available to students during the holiday season and throughout the entire school year. December 14, 2023.
Howdy, I’m Ben, and I cover the state Capitol. In an alternate universe, my bio would read that I graduated from college, traveled to Bhutan and trained in martial arts so that one day I could return and defend my city from crime … like Batman.
In reality, I graduated from the University of Richmond in 2021 and joined WITF in June of 2023. In between I was down in Charleston, South Carolina at the Post and Courier.
I like helping people and, in my opinion, one of the best ways to do that is to inform them. That’s why I love reporting and covering politics.
When I’m not working, you will probably see me with my dog Ozzy, consuming an unhealthy amount of coffee or visiting some local bars.
Commonwealth Media Services
Harrisburg, PA. Dr. Khalid Mumin, Secretary of the Pennsylvania Dept. of Education (PDE), speaks during Thursday’s event. Officials with the Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs (DDAP) and Department of Education (PDE), joined students at Central Dauphin School District (CDSD) to highlight their evidence-based substance use disorder (SUD) prevention program and remind schools of the mental health resources available to students during the holiday season and throughout the entire school year. December 14, 2023.
Under Pennsylvania’s system of funding schools, wealthy communities with high local tax bases can adequately fund their schools.
But poorer communities cannot.
This means districts in high-income communities, such as North Allegheny School District, are able to meet the needs of their students better than districts in low-income areas such as Reading.
Mumin said he will not budge from seeking the $1.1 billion, as research by the bipartisan commission clearly identified this inequity as a problem.
Last year’s budget negotiations bogged down in a disagreement over funding school vouchers. But there was broad agreement on the spending plan for basic education.
Without that vouchers fight derailing talks this year, Mumin said he’s hopeful the legislature will pass Shapiro’s budget.
As a result, Mumin is hopeful the legislature will pass Shapiro’s proposal for this year.
“In the midst of all the discussions around choice and other things, the legislature came together and supported that $567 million investment,” he said.
Mumin said there are still things that need to be addressed.
For example, last year, the state began funding universal free breakfast for students. Free lunch could be next.
He said the $1.1 billion investment in basic education creates room for “ideas, aspirational goals for the future of education in the commonwealth.”