After 14 public hearings, with more than 90 testimonies, including one on opening day from Salisbury Township School District’s Superintendent Lynn Fuini-Hetten, Pennsylvania’s Basic Education Funding Commission released its report and recommendations Jan. 11.

The 114-page report details its findings, listing eight recommendations BEFC believes need to be addressed to ensure each child in the state receives equal quality of education regardless of where they live.

The recommendations include investing in facilities, investing in the education workforce, investing in school support, as well as examining charter school funding. The need to also examine a public school district as a whole is also recommended.

According to the BEFC recommendations, Salisbury Township School District would receive an additional $450,000 to meet its needs for students, while Allentown School District would receive $36.7 million.

In a statement, BEFC member and state Rep. Peter Schweyer, D-134th, said, “We are investing $5 billion per year to level the playing field for districts being left behind. We are delivering a billion-dollar property tax cut for homeowners in districts where the burden has hit them the hardest. And we are recognizing the massive costs of construction and major renovations cannot simply be absorbed by districts by creating a new finding method that invests in our commonwealth while investing in our kids.”

Pennsylvania House Republican Leader Bryan Cutler, R-100th, doesn’t agree, stating, “Pennsylvania’s system of basic education is fundamentally broken, but it is a false choice to continually double down on a funding-only approach to improve the inadequacies of our system.”

With education as one of his priorities and weeks away from his next budget, Gov. Josh Shapiro also weighed in on the report.

“The report addresses a number of priorities of mine that continue the critical investments we have already made – including mental health supports for our kids, resources to repair, maintain and secure school facilities and efforts to increase and support our teachers,” Shapiro said.

“I appreciate the dedication of the commission,” Fuini-Hetten told The Press. “It is evident the commission took the time to engage with diverse stakeholders across the commonwealth in an effort to better understand the challenges and complexities of school funding.

“Salisbury has significant facility?needs and I am hoping we would benefit?from increased funding in this area,” Fuini-Hetten said.

BEFC’s recommendations are solely recommendations. It does provide an updated report on what the perceived needs are, by district, of the students and schools.

To read the BEFC’s findings and recommendations, visit basiceducationfundingcommission.com.