Career Institute of Technology briefs Easton Area School District on 2025-26 budget, enrollment and funding formula

Career Institute of Technology officials presented a preview of their 2025-26 operating budget and enrollment trends to the Easton Area School District Board of Education on Feb. 24, 2025, saying the district’s share of CIT operating costs fell to 38.21% under the joint funding formula.

The presentation, delivered by Adrienne and Julie from CIT and introduced by Superintendent Tracy, explained how the 80/20 funding formula determines each member district’s share: 80% is based on a three‑year average daily membership (ADM) of students sent to CIT and 20% on total eligible enrollment in each district. Adrienne said, “the bulk of the formula is really gonna be looking at the 3 year average daily membership,” and walked the board through how recent year‑to‑year rolls in the three‑year lookback produced Easton’s reduced share.

Why it matters: changes in the three‑year ADM can shift a district’s contribution substantially from year to year even if local enrollment grows in the current year. CIT staff told the board that Easton currently has 271 students enrolled in CIT programs, with 92 projected to graduate this year. Applications from Easton increased to 201, up from 146 at the same point last year; CIT projected total applications could reach about 300 by July following another open house.

Presenters said program growth is strong: a new veterinary technician program for next year is already full and the joint operating committee recently approved opening a second welding program to address long waiting lists. On the revenue side, CIT officials attributed part of the offset to rising state and federal support for career and technical education, including increased Vocational Education (Voc Ed) subsidy and higher Perkins grant funding.

Budget details presented to the board showed an operating cost increase (CIT staff described the change as an increase of about $317,000, or 3.16% to operating costs), with the net increased cost to member districts reduced by higher state and federal revenue. Presenters also noted debt service remains a separate line item that is added to the funding formula; debt service can move independently because it is affected by the state’s Act 1 index, they said.

CIT staff warned the board that the three‑year averaging method can produce a “pendulum” effect: when a higher year rolls off the three‑year average, a district’s share can decline in one year and rise the next. Adrienne pointed specifically to the October 1 count that will roll off next year and said Easton should expect its share to swing back up closer to recent levels when that happens.

Timeline and next steps: the joint operating committee has already approved the budget proposal; CIT presenters said they will return to the five member districts for final approval and expected the process to be finalized by April. The Easton board will see the CIT budget again on its March agenda for formal action.

Speakers quoted in this article spoke during the CIT presentation at the February meeting and are listed in the speakers section below.