Delaware County’s state legislators say it’s time to apply the state’s 2016 Fair Funding Formula to all school spending, not just new education dollars that have come in since the Formula was enacted, writes Max Bennett for patch.com.

That would go a long way toward fairly funding all public schools.

Poorer communities have less local tax money coming in to support school district budgets.

 The state’s current funding system doesn’t acknowledge the inequity or make up for that lower revenue, leaving some school districts perpetually underfunded.

“If public schools cannot meet children’s even most basic safety needs, it makes it that much harder to ensure students can reach their full potential,” said state Rep. Jennifer O’Mara.

Fair funding means a Zip code won’t determine the quality of a child’s education.

The Delaware County lawmakers would also like state investment in schools left behind.

A state budget surplus and federal COVID-19 relief dollars makes that possible.

“We can use federal dollars for health care and infrastructure and other kinds of job creation while using the budget surplus to help our kids and build a better present and a better future.” Said State Rep. Margo Davidson said.

Read more at patch.com about fair school funding in Pennsylvania.