Mar. 02, 2021
HARRISBURG – State Rep. Jim Struzzi (R-Indiana) has authored legislation that would address an oversight that failed to allocate federal education funding for the 29-member Pennsylvania Association of Intermediate Units (PAIUs).
“The formula by which federal money is dispersed to our schools under
Act 1 of 2021 fails to take into account PAIU and its regional educational service agencies,” Struzzi said. “This is an oversight that needs addressed immediately, should any additional federal money be allocated to Pennsylvania.”
House Bill 719, which must first be considered by the House Appropriations Committee, would allocate to PAIU grants based on a formula that takes into consideration the intermediate unit’s market value/aid ratio and the average daily membership of its component school districts.
“We appreciate Rep. Struzzi’s initiative on this matter, not just for our efforts at the ARIN Intermediate Unit, but for the benefit of all intermediate units and the school districts and CTCs that we serve across the state,” said Jim Wagner, executive director of ARIN Intermediate Unit 28, which serves 11 school districts and two career and technical centers in Armstrong and Indiana counties. “What the Pennsylvania Department of Education has requested of educational entities over the course of the last year throughout this pandemic has been challenging, to say the least. The acknowledgement by Jim and his colleagues of the need for additional support to supplement our financial abilities to meet the challenges we face is a welcomed effort.”
“The services that our PAIUs provide to students and their families, as well as school districts in general, are invaluable,” commented Struzzi. “They partner with education agencies to support programs and services to improve student learning and achievement.
He added, “Considering the unpredictability of the impact COVID-19 is having on our economy, and the constitutional responsibly we as a Commonwealth have to provide a quality education, it is vital that we fast track
House Bill 719 through the legislative process and get it to Gov. Tom Wolf’s desk as soon as possible.”
Questions about this or any legislative issue should be directed to Struzzi’s district office at 1-724-465-0220.