Proposed state budget cuts to education would have the greatest impact on the state’s poorest schools districts, according to an analysis by the Education Law Center, an advocacy group for public education.

In some cases, cuts per student at urban schools would be ten times higher than their wealthier neighbors.

For instance, Gov. Tom Corbett’s proposed budget means the Steelton-Highspire School District would get $1,139 less from the state for every student, or $28,477 less for a class of 25. That’s even though the district has a poverty rate of 68.2 percent and already has a tax rate of 24.3 mills, the second highest in Dauphin County after Harrisburg.

In contrast, Derry Twp., with a poverty rate of 12.3 percent, would get $121 less per student from the state, or $3,030 less for a class of 25. Its tax rate is 16.99 mills.

Harrisburg’s cuts would come to $1,026 per student; York’s $1,545.

“That’s sad,” Steelton-Highspire superintendent Audrey Utley said.

Corbett outlined a budget that would cut $1.18 billion from public education, including basic education money and accountability block grants for at-risk students.

During his budget address, Corbett asked school districts to share the sacrifice in tough economic times, and said voters should decide on any property tax increases above inflation. He promised to relieve districts of some unfunded mandates. He also wants to offer vouchers to students in failing school districts, a program estimated to cost $1 billion over the next three years.

According to the Education Law Center analysis, funds to the 144 schools targeted for the voucher program were cut twice as much per student as other schools.

In Steelton-Highspire, the money that would be cut in Corbett’s budget paid for after-school and Saturday tutoring, summer classes, aid for students to take dual enrollment classes at Harrisburg Area Community College and more to help struggling, impoverished students become proficient, Utley said.

In addition, “we are less able to go to our tax base to make up the difference,” she said. “We’ve already asked a half mill tax increase, but that won’t come close to making up the $1.5 million we’re losing.”