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The Impact of State Budget Cuts?

I am wondering if people are starting to learn about specific program cuts in their schools?

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Permalink Reply by Ian Moran on July 15, 2011 at 2:46pm

Pottstown High School is eliminating it's cross country program. Students are very upset.

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Permalink Reply by William Lin on July 20, 2011 at 9:25am

Philadelphia SD cuts that have been in the media: Half of the district's bilingual counselors, programs for pregnant and parenting students, full-service kitchens, and a program at South Philadelphia High School that was working toward fostering intercultural understanding and reconciliation following the violent anti-Asian attacks at the school in December 2009.

I'm sure there are plenty more that I'm not aware of yet.

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Permalink Reply by Yesenia Rosado on July 20, 2011 at 10:15am

Harrisburg SD, which was facing a 15.5 million deficit, was able to maintain full-day kindergarten, but had to eliminate 214 positions and close 3 schools, which will lead to an increase in class size.

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Permalink Reply by Ian Moran on July 20, 2011 at 10:27am

The State System of Higher Education universities are raising tuition by 7.5%.

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Permalink Reply by Jennifer Lowman on August 1, 2011 at 11:13am

I have heard that my school district, the Cheltenham School District, is cutting some special education aids and some other paraprofessionals, but it is unclear to me exactly which staff are being cut where. The District also seems to be reorganizing how it provides therapy services to students with special needs; for instance, the District terminated its contract with my daughter's physical therapist, but I don't know who will be providing that service to her in the fall.

On the other hand, the District is terminating some of its contracts for services with the Montgomery County IU (which are very costly contracts) and bringing certain children with disabilites back into the District by establishing District-run classrooms for them within the District. Hopefully, this change will cause more children with disabilities to be integrated into their neighborhood schools.

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Permalink Reply by William Lin on August 3, 2011 at 1:29pm

Along with scaling back Promise Academy expansion, The Inquirer is also reporting more cuts for the School District of Philadelphia: "More school nurses will be cut; the district's central book budget will be cut; there will be less money for in-school suspension programs and a reduction of the Parent University budget by $500,000. Two Parent Resource Centers will be closed - four will remain - and a regional Early Childhood Education Center pilot will be cut."