From Cutback to Comeback: A Path Forward for Scranton and Its School District

After decades of decline, Scranton can capitalize on the unprecedented federal emergency relief provided to schools and communities in the pandemic and its wake. To do so, Scranton must recognize and address the threat to the city's public school system. Great public schools are the lifeblood of any thriving community, attracting and retaining families and businesses. State funding is critical to Scranton because, as a low-income community, it has a limited tax base and a student body that research shows is more expensive to educate. However, for decades, Pennsylvania has underfunded its K-12 education. This report offers a diagnosis and prescription for renewal. The prescription for renewal starts with capitalizing on federal resources to restore critical educational programming, including reinstating Pre-K and maintaining reasonable class sizes, and to achieve the goal of "competitive compensation" highlighted in the Recovery Plan. With educational programming stabilized--like finances already have been--the City of Scranton, its school district, and its people must come together with other communities across the state to get the Pennsylvania Legislature to step up to its constitutional responsibility for adequately and equitably funding schools.