Gov. Ed Rendell held a roundtable discussion at an Allentown elementary school Wednesday — one of five forums he’s conducting throughout the state — to tout his plan to invest $2.6 billion in public education over the next six years.

Under Rendell’s plan, Allentown School District stands to gain $90 million in new funding by 2014, a goal essential to closing the resource gap identified in a study the state authorized last year to find out what it will cost to achieve a quality education in public schools.

‘‘This is key to contributing to the growth of our economy in the coming years,’‘ Rendell said to a full gymnasium at Washington Elementary School. ‘‘We still pay only 37 percent of the bill for public education, one of the lowest state shares. It’s time for the state to pay its fair share in moving every district toward adequate school funding,’‘

Statewide, the plan would be phased in over the next six years unless there is a budget deficit, which would postpone the increases until there is a budget surplus, Rendell said.
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