Wednesday, December 20, 2006
A Christmas Present from the Pittsburgh Schools?
On December 20, the Pittsburgh School board approved a 2007 operating budget with no increase in spending over the 2006 budget. On its face this would seem like a real win for taxpayers. However, before we break out the champagne, let’s keep in mind that because of the continuing decline in enrollment, per pupil spending will still exceed $18,300.
At this level, Pittsburgh schools rank as one of the highest-- if not the highest-- per pupil spending districts in Pennsylvania. Moreover, at the $18,000 level, Pittsburgh spending rivals many private schools and many colleges. Obviously, a lot of work needs to be done to bring the district more in line with the Pennsylvania average of $12,000 or so per student.
And even worse, Pittsburgh schools are not faring well on measurements of academic achievement. In several of the city’s high schools, 80 percent or more of eleventh graders cannot perform at grade level in math and 70 percent and higher are below grade level in reading. This is nothing short of a calamity for kids about to graduate.
Mr. Roosevelt, the new superintendent, is making some dramatic changes to address poor academic achievement and to rein in spending. It is a daunting task. We can and should wish him well as he takes on the entrenched interests that have for so long prevented the kinds of reforms needed to correct the serious problems faced by the district.
Maybe in future Christmas-time announcements, much better news about progress toward solving the spending and academic problems will be reported.
At this level, Pittsburgh schools rank as one of the highest-- if not the highest-- per pupil spending districts in Pennsylvania. Moreover, at the $18,000 level, Pittsburgh spending rivals many private schools and many colleges. Obviously, a lot of work needs to be done to bring the district more in line with the Pennsylvania average of $12,000 or so per student.
And even worse, Pittsburgh schools are not faring well on measurements of academic achievement. In several of the city’s high schools, 80 percent or more of eleventh graders cannot perform at grade level in math and 70 percent and higher are below grade level in reading. This is nothing short of a calamity for kids about to graduate.
Mr. Roosevelt, the new superintendent, is making some dramatic changes to address poor academic achievement and to rein in spending. It is a daunting task. We can and should wish him well as he takes on the entrenched interests that have for so long prevented the kinds of reforms needed to correct the serious problems faced by the district.
Maybe in future Christmas-time announcements, much better news about progress toward solving the spending and academic problems will be reported.
