On Monday, June 26, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives passed a bill that would address unsafe and inadequate school facilities across the state.
Since 1973, school districts have been able to apply to the Pennsylvania Education Department for reimbursement of school construction expenses through a program called PlanCon. But funding was eliminated entirely in the 2015-16 state budget, and never came back.
“We have schools across the state that are filled with mold, lead paint, asbestos, that don’t have access to the internet, that are not accessible to students in wheelchairs or other special needs,” PA House Education Committee Chairperson Peter Schweyer said in a statement.
The new bill would resume funding PlanCon and allow schools to apply to the Commonwealth Financing Authority for maintenance grants of up to $5 million.
A similar bill was introduced in the Pennsylvania State Senate in February, and enjoys some bipartisan support. However, that bill has so far not advanced out of the chamber's Education Committee.
