Dive Brief:
- An audit released by Pennsylvania Attorney General Eugene DePasquale on Tuesday highlighted a series of management issues in the state's cash-strapped education system.
- The report found that the state lacks an up-to-date master plan for education, which DePasquale says led to "midirected" leadership from its board of education.
- The report also called out the state's reliance on retired employees to work for short periods and the lack of checks to make sure those employees don't work more than the 95 days they are allowed.
Dive Insight:
Several states are currently facing budget crises akin to Pennsylvania's, either prompted by legislative gridlock or court mandate. In Pennsylvania, as elsewhere, budget crises go hand in hand with partisan divides. As the audit found, that can leave administrators at the district and state level without clear guidance or oversight.
Pennsylvania has struggled to pass a budget, leaving districts in limbo with no state funds for schools allocated by the legislature. The audit comes on the heels of a report that found the impasse is costing districts millions in borrowing fees and interest. The current funding issue comes on the heels of four years of steep budget cuts under former Gov. Tom Corbett. But the audit found that it's not just about cash: Pennsylvania's education troubles stem from mismanagment, as well.