Pa. lawmakers seek to boost public-school aid

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A $27.7 billion budget plan written by Republican leaders of the Pennsylvania state House and Senate would send more money to public schools than a plan approved previously by the Senate.

The plan was delivered to Gov. Tom Corbett’s staff today and wasn’t released publicly, but some details were obtained by The Associated Press. Top Republican lawmakers are scheduled to meet with Corbett later.

Under the plan, public schools would get an extra $50 million, or $100 million total, for grants that help districts pay for full-day kindergarten.

Overall spending would drop slightly from the plan the Senate approved last month because of recalculations of welfare caseloads and the amount owed for school employees’ Social Security taxes.

Aid for higher education would remain the same as in the Senate-passed plan.