Legislative Black Caucus kicks off hearings on education budget cuts

Today in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania’s Legislative Black Caucus kicked off a series of hearings Governor Corbett’s proposed education cuts.

State Representative James Roebuck of Philadelphia says he has been hearing from constituents about massive education funding cuts and he’s hopeful the message is reaching Governor Corbett.

“Change the budget redirect the priorities make education the number one priority in the budget, it should be the number one priority in the budget,” said Roebuck.

Activist Nancy Nguyen spoke about how schools are struggling now without the planned massive state cutbacks. She used one Philadelphia school as an example.

“In a school of 800 students there are now only two counselors from four, and one school nurse,” Nguyen said. “In a school of 800 students where less than 30 percent graduate and only 20 percent can do reading or math at grade level, there are not many students who can go to college from this environment.”

State Representative Ronald Waters, who represents parts of Philadelphia and Delaware County, says no representatives from the Corbett administration are scheduled to testify at any of the hearings.