On February 8th, Rabbi Alanna sent out the following email:
I am reaching out today to share an exciting advocacy opportunity for members of the Or Hadash community. We learn in Pirkei Avot (4:12), “Let the honor of your student be as dear to you as your own.” Right here, in PA, lawmakers have lost sight of the crucial value of providing an education that they themselves would have been proud to receive for every child in the Commonwealth.
Every two weeks, the Or Hadash Antiracism Task Force will send out a Fair Funding Fridays advocacy ask that will be a quick, easy, and specific action you can take to fight for more education funds, more fairly distributed, so that every student in Pennsylvania is given a better chance of educational success.
During Black History month, it is an especially good time to ask ourselves what we can do to improve Racial Justice. I’m sure we all try to be good people and treat everyone fairly, but according to Ibram X. Kendi, author of How to be an Antiracist, being “not racist” is not enough. He calls on us all to be “antiracist” which he defines as actively working against systems of racist oppression and inequality. This winter and spring, the Or Hadash Antiracism Task Force is working to undo unfair education funding in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania as the focus of its antiracist work,* and they want everyone to have the opportunity to get involved with this work as well.
There are three important areas to be aware of when it comes to working for equitable education funding in PA:
· In our state, 80% of students of color live (and learn) in growing districts. Education funds are currently distributed using a “Hold Harmless” funding formula which stipulates that districts not receive less money from the State of Pennsylvania than they got in 2015. In other words, shrinking districts benefit and growing districts suffer. The chair of the Committee on Education has agreed to hold hearings on this issue, but has yet to schedule a date despite repeated requests.
· A group of school districts, families, and statewide organizations have sued the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania over its funding formula claiming that it denies students their constitutional right to “provide a thorough and efficient system of public education to serve the needs of the Commonwealth.” The plaintiffs are asking the judge to find the current funding system unconstitutional and end it. The PA General Assembly would then be obligated to develop a new formula that distributes funds in a more equitable way than the current approach. The case is currently underway; a decision is expected in late spring/early summer. You can follow case highlights here.
· Governor Wolfe will release the budget for his final year in office this week. Education advocates expect that he will ask for a significant increase in education funds. Pennsylvania is ranked 45th in state education funding. We need to advocate for a bigger education funding pie as well as more equitable servings!
Please join me in taking action on Fair Funding Fridays @ Or Hadash! Together, we can help raise up the opportunities for all of children of Pennsylvania, truly honoring each and every one of them and treating them as we treat our own.
*To learn more about education equity, watch the panel presentation that the Antiracism Task Force hosted November 14th: https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/p6dnUKYmAs-iJHgwD6o4WJe5u-Y8jLjlFr3LW90BNTljIxohULDbOnj30qf1P29m._2TP-IvLsJtDMZOI Access Passcode: ik3@ypF0
If you’re interested in joining the Antiracism Taskforce, contact Alisa Belzer, alisabelzer@gmail.com.
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