Monday, March 9th at 2PM the PA House Democratic Policy Committee will hold a hearing on education funding and the Governor’s budget. It is open to the public and you are invited to attend.
Dawkins requested the hearing and will serve as co-chairman along with HDPC Chairman Mike Sturla, D-Lancaster. Dawkins said the hearing will focus on adequately funding education, especially in poorer urban districts like Philadelphia School District. Gov. Tom Wolf has proposed a $1 billion restoration for education in the 2015-16 budget, including a $400 million increase for basic education that marks the largest increase in state history.
The current hearing agenda is:
- 2 p.m. — Welcome and Opening Remarks
- 2:10 p.m. — Pedro Rivera, acting secretary, Pennsylvania Department of Education
- 2:30 p.m. — Panel from Philadelphia City Council:
- Councilwoman Maria Quinones-Sanchez, 7th District
- Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell, 3rd District
- 3 p.m. — Panel Two:
- Isaiah Thomas, associate dean of students, Sankofa Freedom Academy Charter School
- Helen Gym, co-founder, Parents United for Public Education
- Nelson Diaz, partner, Dilworth Paxson LLP
- 3:40 p.m. — Panel Three:
- Brett Schaeffer, communications director and policy analyst, Education Law Center
- Joan Duvall-Flynn, Education Committee chair, PA State Conference of NACCP Branches
- Bishop Dwayne Rouster, executive director, Philadelphians Organized to Witness Empower & Rebuild (POWER)
- 4:20 p.m. — Closing Remarks
