On July 11, 2024, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro approved Senate Bill No. 700, now Act No. 55 of 2024 (the “Act”). The Act amends several sections of the Pennsylvania Public School Code of 1949 (the “School Code”).
In Part Six of our School Administrators’ Guide to Act 55, KingSpry’s Education Law Chair Emeritus, John E. Freund, III, Esq., and Education Law Attorney, Sarah Modrick, Esq., LL.M., discuss the provisions impacting the Ready to Learn Block Grant.
Purpose of the Ready to Learn Block Grant
Appropriations made to the Ready to Learn Block Grant (the “Grant”) are intended to support educational programming in Pennsylvania by awarding school districts additional funding.
Promised Funds
Pursuant to the Act, beginning with the 2024-2025 school year and each school year thereafter, every school will receive a Grant amount not less than the amount awarded during the immediately preceding school year.
Adequacy Supplement
The Act requires the Commonwealth to provide an Adequacy Supplement from the Grant appropriation for the 2024-2025 school year. Funding received by a school from the Grant or Adequacy Supplement must be used to establish, maintain, or expand the programs or activities listed under Section 2599.6(B).
Such programs or activities include, but are not limited to:
• Programs or activities that focus on high-quality academics;
• Programs or activities that foster supportive learning environments; and/or
• Programs or activities that establish and promote data-informed decision making and evidence-based practices to improve educational outcomes for students.
Beginning in the 2024-2025 fiscal year, within sixty (60) days after the conclusion of a school year in which a school district received money from the Grant or Adequacy Supplement, the school district must submit a report to the Department of Education (the “Department”) summarizing how the money was used in accordance with the permissible uses. The form and manner of submission will be determined by the Department.
Tax Equity Supplement
The Act also requires the Commonwealth to provide a Tax Equity Supplement from the Grant appropriation for the 2024-2025 school year.
Within thirty (30) days of the effective date of a state law providing for the appropriation for the Grant, the Department will notify each school district of: (i) the amount of money available to them, (ii) the allowable uses of the money, and (iii) the process by which the school district can apply for and receive the money.
To be eligible, a school district’s board of directors must adopt a resolution in conjunction with actions taken in accordance with the requirements under Section 311(a) and (d) of the Taxpayer Relief Act. If eligible, school boards may use the money received for any of the following purposes:
1. “Mitigating or preventing an increase in the millage rate of real estate property taxes levied by the school district;
2. Supplementing the amount calculated by the school district for the homestead and farmstead exclusion under section 342 of the Taxpayer Relief Act;
3. Establishing, maintaining or expanding a program provided by the school district that supplements the rebates provided under Chapter 13 of the Taxpayer Relief Act;
4. Mitigating or replacing the loss of revenue received by the school district resulting from a decision of a court of this Commonwealth within the previous five years relating to an assessment appeal under Article V of the act of May 22, 1933 (P.L.853, No.155), known as The General County Assessment Law; and
5. Reducing debt.”
Charter School Payments
Tax Equity Supplement awards received by school districts that are deemed to be part of the Grant should not be included in the school district’s budgeted total expenditure per average daily membership used to calculate the amount to be paid to a charter school under Section 1725-A(a)(2) and (3).
