Dive Brief:

• Acting Pennsylvania Secretary of Education Pedro Rivera has sent a letter to superintendents across the state asking for plans on how they will spend funds, as well as delivering details on new accountability measures. 
• The goal of the plans is to make sure extra funds actually make it to classrooms and produce measurable results.
• Gov. Tom Wolf has proposed spending an extra $400 million on basic education next school year, and an extra $100 million on special education. 

Dive Insight:

When Wolf appointed Rivera in January, there was speculation that the former Philadelphia Public Schools administrator would bring some much needed educational insight to the state position. At the time, Wolf had said he brought Rivera on because of his "efforts to improve urban education" and commitment to public education in the state. Putting more money into schools, while also holding schools accountable for how they spend their funds, sounds like a good start.

According to the Post-Gazette, funding can be used for "extending the school day or year, reducing class size, personalized intervention for struggling students, career and technical education, college and career counseling and professional development, curriculum and classroom materials."

All of these are reforms and resources schools beyond just Pennsylvania seem to desire. Closing schools and investing more money in something new isn't always the answer. Sometimes, it's as simple as funds for personalized interventions.