Pennsylvania's Education Governor

by KYW's Dr. Marciene Mattleman

While needs for education programs grow, times are hard. Yet Pennsylvania has put education at the forefront, and there has been pay-off.

Pennsylvania was the only state in the nation to make significant progress in reading and math in every grade tested from 2002 through 2008 according to the Center for Education Policy, and 73% of all Pennsylvania students performed at or above grade level on state PSSA tests this year compared to 51.5% in 2002.

According to PCCY, Public Citizens for Children and Youth, the region's leading advocate organization for young people, Philadelphia has had eight straight years of gains in reading and math, and for the first time ever, more than half of the city's public school students met state standards.

Class size has been lowered, the number of teachers of the arts has increased and more than 150 counselors have been hired. PCCY's efforts worked to make this happen.

This year 15 rural districts, where the need is critical, received double digit funding. In national publications, Ed Rendell has rightly been called the Education Governor.