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More than 400 clergy, students, parents and activists packed the State Capitol to push for 100 percent of the state’s education budget to go through the fair funding formula, at a rally organized by Philadelphians Organized to Witness Empower and Rebuild (POWER) on Wednesday afternoon.

The state passed the fair funding formula legislation in 2016, establishing that schools should be funded equitably no matter their zip code, but only seven percent of education funds are distributed through the formula.

“Who wants seven percent of fairness? No, we want 100 percent,” said State Rep. Chris Rabb (D- 200). “If the state has determined what’s fair in bipartisan fashion, why would we only accept seven percent of what that looks like?”

Rabb introduced Bill 2501 earlier this week that would have 100 percent of the education budget being distributed through the fair funding formula. Wednesday’s rally called attention to the bill and encouraged other legislators to sponsor it.

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