Gov. Ed Rendell expressed pride in Pennsylvania's top-10 national ranking in the annual "Quality Counts" report released by Education Week on Tuesday and urged his successor to not cut education spending in the state's next budget.

The state-by-state rankings placed Pennsylvania ninth with an overall grade of a B- and seventh in K-12 student achievement. He said Pennsylvania's grades, while not ranked, were in the D's and C's when he came into office.

"We're very proud of this achievement," he said.

"The best news for us is the statistics that Education Week counted are a year or two old. We've made significant achievements (since then)," he said.

Pennsylvania was ranked 13th in "chance for success" based on factors such as family income, parent education, preschool enrollment and academic achievement.

The state ranked 16th in school finance based on factors such as the relationship between school district funding and per pupil spending.

Mr. Rendell -- who made a point of increasing the state's funding of basic education in each of his eight years as governor -- conceded that the state's multibillion-dollar budget gap makes that impossible this year.

But he called on Gov.-elect Tom Corbett "at least to hold education harmless."

"Nothing is more important in the economic future of the commonwealth than educational achievement and a well qualified, well educated workforce," Mr. Rendell said.

Asked for reaction to Rendell's plea, Corbett spokesman Kevin Harley said, "Every department will be looked at for cost savings, including the Department of Education."

Mr. Corbett is to be sworn in Tuesday

First Published: January 12, 2011, 5:00 a.m.