HARRISBURG, PENNSYLVANIA (BNO NEWS) – Governor Edward Rendell called for a $354 million investment for Basic Education funding in order to continue Pennsylvania’s academic gains, the Governor’s Office informed on Tuesday.

Education has been a top priority for Gov. Rendell as he continues to work in his six-year phase to increase the state’s share of education funding. With this raise, the basic education subsidy would grow to $5.9 billion, 6.4 percent more than last year’s budget. As a result Pennsylvania will continue to be a real investor in public schools.

“A quality education system is a fundamental tool for economic development,” Governor Rendell said.

From 2000 to 2008, Pennsylvania was the only state to show significant improvement in reading and math in every grade, according to tests made by the Center for Education Policy. This academic progress is a result from the increased state resources that the school districts have received over the last three years.

“We have invested in our children, and they are rewarding us with rising achievement levels that are the envy of the nation,” Gov. Rendell said.