Gov. Ed Rendell yesterday proposed a new education funding formula that would funnel an extra $2.6 billion over six years to school districts that a study claimed aren't spending enough on students.

Mr. Rendell and Education Secretary Gerald L. Zahorchak want to more closely tie the basic education subsidy to each district's poverty level, millage rate, living costs and number of students learning English as a second language, among other factors.

They would kick off the effort by increasing the 2008-09 basic education subsidy to $5.2 billion, up $291.3 million, or 5.9 percent, over the current fiscal year. The proposal must be approved by the Legislature.

Increases for basic subsidies in Allegheny County districts would range from 1.5 percent in several districts to 10.84 percent in Chartiers Valley.

School districts long have criticized the state for failing to properly fund education, forcing them to rely on burdensome property taxes instead. Dr. Zahorchak called the new plan a "historic" turnabout.

Education Department spokesman Michael Race said the $2.6 billion over six years would be on top of what the state currently allocates for basic subsidies. The increases through 2013-2014 coincide with a federal mandate to have all students proficient in math and reading by 2014.

Dr. Zahorchak said the plan is to narrow the "adequacy gap," the difference between what districts are spending and what the costing-out study determined would be adequate spending.

The study, released in November, concluded that annual education funding statewide is $4.8 billion lower than it should be.

In Allegheny County, 34 of 43 districts were found to be spending less than the study considered adequate.

McKeesport Area School District had the biggest disparity, spending $9,621 per student in 2005-06, $2,851 per student less than the consultants considered adequate.

Despite chronic academic and budget problems, the Pittsburgh district spent $15,078 per student in 2005-06, $2,330 more than the study believed adequate.

Though it's spending more than the study deemed necessary, the Pittsburgh district would get a 2008-09 basic subsidy of $150.3 million, up 4.27 percent from this fiscal year. Christopher Berdnik, chief financial officer for Pittsburgh Public Schools, said Pittsburgh gets extra money because it's designated a "commonwealth partnership district" with significant academic and financial problems.

Dr. Zahorchak said the state wants most of the extra money used for programs proven to boost student achievement, including longer school hours, teacher training and smaller class sizes.

He called on districts to consider mergers and take other steps to reduce costs.

The budget proposal also includes $1 billion for special education, up $30.3 million, or 3 percent, from this fiscal year.

The budget proposal includes $87.6 million for pre-kindergarten, up $12.6 million or 16.7 percent, and $197.6 million to help districts fund charter schools, up $36.3 million or 22.5 percent.