Secretary Cardona, U.S. Department of Education — Pennsylvania (April 24, 2023)
Summary
This is a letter dated April 24, 2023 to Secretary Cardona at the U.S. Department of Education from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, regarding a waiver request from Section 317 of the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriation Act (CRRSA) and Section 2004 (a) of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARP). It says education funding has grown by nearly $1.4 billion in K-12 and $100 million in public higher education, but that Pennsylvania did not achieve compliance in FY2021-2022 for the K-12 and higher education sectors and does not anticipate meeting the requirement in FY2022-23 for higher education. It attributes the slight decline in education's share of spending to an approximate 3.57% increase ($3.6 billion) in Human Services spending.
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“Secretary Cardona, U.S. Department of Education — Pennsylvania (April 24, 2023).”
Original at www.ed.gov. Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/department-of-education-pdf-www-ed-gov-e6371b9c42/
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April 24, 2023
Secretary Cardona
(sent via OESE@ed.gov email)
U.S. Department of Education
Lyndon Baines Johnson Department of Education Building
400 Maryland, Ave, SW
Washington, DC 20202
Re: Waiver Request from Section 317 of the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental
Appropriation Act (CRRSA) and Section 2004 (a) of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARP)
Dear Secretary Cardona,
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has continued to grow its investment in the areas of K-12 education
and public higher education. Education funding in both sectors has grown by nearly $1.4 billion in K-12
and $100 million in public higher education. However, due to the unique definition of the Maintenance of
Effort in ARP and CRRSA, which defines support in education as a percentage of overall state spending,
Pennsylvania did not achieve compliance in FY2021-2022 for the K-12 and higher education sectors and
does not anticipate meeting the requirement in FY2022-23 for the higher education sector.
The slight decline in education spending as a percentage of the overall budget is the result of an
approximate 3.57% increase ($3.6 billion) in the Human Services spending from the average of the
three-year period between FY2017 and FY2019 to the spending in FY2022. That increase leveled off to
around 1.45% in 2023, however it is still impacting education’s share of the overall spending. The
increase reflects the transition from multiple existing Medicaid fee-for-service delivery systems to a
consolidated, capitated, managed long-term services and support system. While the program was a
necessary investment to improve delivery services for our Commonwealth’s most vulnerable populations,
it has decreased the percentage of education spending relative to the overall state budget.
Enclosed is information containing details and explanations relative to Pennsylvania’s compliance with
other factors for the Secretary’s consideration in granting the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania a waiver to
the Maintenance of Effort provisions within CRRSA and ARP.
If there is further information required or questions during the consideration of this request, please reach
out to Jessica Sites, Director of the Bureau of Budget and Fiscal Management at jesites@pa.gov or 717-
783-9843.
Thank you for your consideration in this matter.
Sincerely,
Khalid N. Mumin, Ed.D
Acting Secretary
Pennsylvania Department of Education
333 Market Street | Harrisburg, PA 17126 | 717. | www.education.pa.gov
Factors in Determining the Commonwealth’s Investments in K-12 and Higher Education
For Consideration of Waiving Maintenance of Effort provisions within CRRSA and ARP
Pennsylvania has increased support for education over the last seven to eight years as
indicated by the factors below.
Factor #1: Has Total State Funding for K-12 Education and for Higher Education increased
from the prior fiscal year?
Response: Pennsylvania increased funding for K-12 and Higher Education for
Fiscal Year (FY) 2021-22 when compared to FY2020-21 and FY2022-23 when
compared to FY2021-22. The table below illustrates the percentage increases.
Table 1: Increases to K-12 and Higher Education from Prior Year
2020-21 2021-22 %Variance 2022-23 %Variance
Actual Actual 2021-22 vs. Available 2022-23 vs.
2020-21 2021-22
Total K-12 $8,971,198,000 $9,998,739,000 11.45% $10,930,043,000 9.31%
Support
Total Higher $1,859,372,000 $1,859,372,000 .25% $1,998,609,000 7.49%
Education
Support
Factor #2: Has Total State funding for K-12 Education and for Higher Education increased over
time (e.g., since baseline years)?
Response: Pennsylvania increased funding when compared to the average K-12
and Higher Education spend. The table below illustrates the percentage increases.
Table 2: Increases to K-12 and Higher Education from Baseline Average
Baseline 2021-22 %Variance 2022-23 %Variance
Average (2017 Actual 2021-22 vs. Available 2022-23 vs.
through 2019) Baseline Baseline
Total K-12 $8,591,634,333 $9,998,739,000 16.38% $10,930,043,000 27.22%
Support
Total Higher $1,736,205,667 $1,859,372,000 7.09% $1,998,609,000 15.11%
Education
Support
Factor #3: Has per-pupil State funding for K-12 education and for Higher Education increased
from the prior fiscal year?
Response: Pennsylvania increased funding when compared to the per-pupil
funding in the prior year for K-12 and Higher Education Sectors.
Table 3: Per-pupil State Funding Increases
2020-21 2021-22 %Variance 2022-23 %Variance
Actual per Actual per 2021-22 vs. Available per 2022-23 vs.
pupil spend pupil spend 2020-21 pupil spend 2021-22
Total K-12 $5,257.81 $5,862.34 11.50% $6,440.21 9.86%
Support*
Total Higher $5,812.38 $6,204.71 6.75% $6,839.30 10.23%
Education
Support
*K-12 Per-pupil funding is based on Statewide Average Daily Membership used in the
Basic Education Funding formula for year indicated.
Factor #4: Has per-pupil State funding for K-12 education and for Higher Education increased
from the baseline average?
Response: Pennsylvania increased funding when compared to the per-pupil
funding in the baseline years for K-12 and Higher Education Sectors.
Table 4: Per-pupil K-12 and Higher Education funding From Baseline Average
Baseline 2021-22 %Variance 2022-23 %Variance
Average Actual 2021-22 vs. Available 2022-23 vs.
(2017 Baseline Baseline
through
2019)
Total K-12 $5,012.79 $5,862.34 16.95% $6,440.21 28.48%
Support
Total Higher $4,977.03 $6,204.71 24.67% $6,839.30 37.42%
Education
Support
*K-12 Per-pupil funding is based on Statewide Average Daily Membership used in the
Basic Education Funding formula for year indicated.
Factor #5 Has the State appropriated an increase in State funding for K-12 education and for
higher education for future fiscal years?
Response: In his 2023-24 Executive Budget, Governor Shapiro recommended
increases to education funding in the K-12 and Higher Education Sectors.
Table 5: Future Funding Increases
2022-23 2023-24 %Variance
Available Recommended 2023-24 vs.
2022-23
Total K-12 Support $10,930,043,000 $11,785,363,000 7.83%
Total Higher 1,998,609,000 $2,059,644,000 3.05%
Education Support
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