HARRISBURG A new public school funding formula being considered by the Legislature would create winners and losers as it seeks a way to link the distribution of state aid more closely to need.

Shrinking school districts that were previously spared aid cutbacks many in western Pennsylvania would see their share of aid come in lower under the proposed new formula, an Associated Press analysis found.But many of Pennsylvania's biggest cities and fastest-growing suburbs believed to have been shortchanged previously would get a larger slice of aid for public school instruction and operations.One local school district that has been struggling to pay its bills remains in the dark as to how much additional funding it would get under the proposed formula, if indeed it gets any at all."I think it's pretty vague. I think it's intentionally vague," said Panther Valley Superintendent Dennis Kergick. "I don't put a lot of credence in what's transpiring now, there has to be some compromise."Kergick, whose district includes a large number of impoverished students, doesn't expect a final resolution any time soon."This is a dance that's going to go on for at least the next month and half," he said.Panther Valley was among six school districts, along with other entities, to sue the state for failing to provide sufficient funding for public schools. That suit triggered the legislative attempts to create a new formula.Here's a glance at the plan:SHARE OF WINNERS, LOSERS: All told, 162 districts would get a bigger share of aid that is distributed through the new formula compared to the share of aid the districts received this year, the AP found. Nearly twice as many, 308, would get a smaller share; 30 would see no difference.No district's aid would drop below the amount it now receives even if it continues to shrink.HOW IT WOULD BE IMPLEMENTED: The Legislature has not settled when to start using the formula or how much money to distribute through it. For instance, districts may continue to receive the amount of aid they got this year and only dollars allotted above that baseline amount would be carved up differently under the new formula.But it would change how at least some aid to Pennsylvania's 500 school districts would be distributed after more than two decades of lawmakers and governors bending the formula to their will.WHAT'S DIFFERENT: It places more emphasis on need.It would recognize a district's number of low-income students, including those living below the federal poverty level, as well as their percentage of enrollment. It also would, for the first time, recognize charter schools.Pocono Mountain in Monroe County is among districts with the biggest share.Pleasant Valley is among the top 10 districts with the biggest loss.Monroe County is among the 10 districts with the biggest increase in percentage share, based on growing student populations.Chris Parker contributed to this report.