Bowden: New budget formula could lead to "stunning losses" for some Pa. schools

Pennsylvania’s new state budget includes an extra $500 million in new funding for the state’s schools. But Penn GSE’s Brooks Bowden told The Philadelphia Inquirer that a change in how funds are allocated could lead to “pretty stunning losses” for some school districts.

School districts report how many of their students are certified as low-income to the federal government to qualify for funding under the Title I program. Until now, the state has used those figures to measure needs.

“There’s very strong regulations around ensuring those funds are allocated correctly and fairly,” Bowden told the Inquirer.

Going forward, the state will use the American Community Survey, an annual estimate of communities from the Census Bureau. Bowden said the American Community Survey data can underrepresent poverty, especially in rural parts of the state.

Read more at Inquirer.com.