Historically, Pennsylvania has some of the highest educational spending in the nation; however, according to recent research and surveys, the Commonwealth is receiving a poor return on its investment because our public school systems are not adequately preparing our students to enter the workforce.

According to U.S. Department of Education figures, Pennsylvania is the 14th highest per pupil expenditure in the country at $11,741 in FY 2008 and the 7th highest total salary and benefits for education employees in FY 2008. Also, Pennsylvania has a lower than national average pupil to teacher ratio. Despite these potential advantages, student achievement has not significantly improved over the years and the drop out rate remains at an unacceptably high rate, particularly in our urban districts.

Pennsylvania students' mean SAT scores are below the national average and have held at their current levels since 2000. Pennsylvania's required state assessments under No Child Left Behind (the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment, PSSA tests) show moderate gains in average scores for reading and mathematics in grades 4 and 8. However, many students are unable to surpass the basic level of achievement in the PSSAs or have consistent gains in these categories as they progress through the education system.

As business leaders, parents, and taxpayers, we know that these trends must change in order to ensure a long term vibrant economy, a good quality of life, and the future success of our children. Therefore, the Chamber supports systematic improvements to Pennsylvania's public education system that will increase the quality of education and overall student achievement improvement.

Specifically, the Chamber supports:

• Competitive educational systems and programs, such as charter schools, magnet schools, school choice and Educational Improvement Tax Credits, that provide ample choices for parents and students.
• Holding superintendents, principals and teachers accountable for student performance while recognizing the socioeconomic issues that impact those outcomes.
• Increasing authority and flexibility superintendents and principals have over management and personnel decisions and holding them accountable for such decisions.
• Rewarding teachers whose performance contributes to substantial growth in student achievement while at the same time fairly and efficiently removing ineffective educators.
• Efforts to effectively utilize educational spending so that existing dollars are used first and foremost to increase student achievement and realize a higher return on our investment.
• The elimination of unnecessary state and federal government mandates that divert resources from the mission of education.
• Alignment of education standards with college and workplace expectations.
• Programs that emphasize STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) and technical skills, communication and a full range of business skills, trades and vocational education.
• Encouraging institutions of higher education as well as the private sector to form community-based relationships and programs to enhance the public education system in the Commonwealth.