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Education

The Senate passed four bills sponsored by Senate Education Committee Chairman James Rhoades (R-Schuylkill) designed to assist school districts fulfill the requirements of the federal No Child Left Behind Act.

Senate Bill 154 identifies continuing professional education options for teachers to help students in underperforming schools. Senate Bill 155 would require the Department of Education to provide technical assistance to schools identified as needing improvement.

Senate Bill 157 directs intermediate units to coordinate academic improvement programs for school districts with schools on the state warning list. In addition, the legislation establishes academic improvement teams for school districts needing additional assistance. Senate Bill 158 directs school districts to create parent involvement programs, policies and committees. In addition, the legislation would direct the Department of Education to establish a clearinghouse of information related to strategies, resources and materials that can be used as part of parent involvement programs and policies.

The Senate approved legislation that would make it mandatory for Pennsylvania schools to report criminal activities to law enforcement officials or face disciplinary action.

Senate Bill 112, sponsored by Sen. Jeffrey Piccola (R-Dauphin), would require school districts, vocational-technical schools, intermediate units, and charter schools to form "memorandums of understanding" with local law enforcement. These agreements require schools to immediately notify law enforcement if a crime is committed on school property and outline the emergency response procedures for that district or school.

In 2005, a Dauphin County grand jury found that school administrators failed to comply with the reporting requirements of the Safe Schools Act and failed to work cooperatively with local police to respond to and prevent violence in a Dauphin County school district. As a result, the Grand Jury called upon the General Assembly to address the deficiencies.

Choosing local decision-making over mandatory spending programs, the Senate Education Committee today voted to fold several of Gov. Rendell's education spending proposals into the accountability block grant program, eliminating the need to fund them as stand-alone initiatives.

Committee chairman Sen. James Rhoades (R-Schuylkill) sponsored the amendment to Senate Bill 399.

The amendment inserted the "Classrooms for the Future," "Science, It's Elementary" and Project 720 initiatives into the accountability block grant program as approved spending options. School districts already have the option to spend block grant funds on full-day kindergarten and pre-kindergarten programs.

Senator Rhoades stated: "Because the budget this year will be so tight, it is clear to me that we can not fund all of the education initiatives that the governor has proposed. But we can give our school districts the option to fund these programs with whatever state funding is available to them through the accountability block grant program."

Senate Approves Sen. Robbins' Science in Motion Bill
The Senate today approved Senate Bill 472, a bill introduced by state Senator Bob Robbins (R-50) to formally enact into law the highly-touted Science Technology Partnerships Program, better known as "Science in Motion."
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Podcast: Senators Mike Waugh (R-28), Mike Folmer (R-48) ans John Eichelberger (R-30) discuss the basic education funding formula and its impact on growing school districts following a Senate Republican Policy Committee public hearing on the issue.

Rhoades Introduces Measure to Hold the Line on Rising Tuition Costs
Acting to help Pennsylvania parents afford college education for their children, Senator James J. Rhoades (R-29) introduced bills that will cap tuition increases at the rate of inflation in the Commonwealth’s state-supported colleges and universities.
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Senate Approves Senator Folmer's Bill Bringing More Accountability to Department of Education
The State Senate unanimously approved legislation sponsored by Sen. Mike "Citizen Mike" Folmer (R-Lebanon) that would increase accountability in the Department of Education.
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Senate Education Committee Hearing Examines School Safety Issues

Senate Education Committee Chairman James J. Rhoades (R-29) emphasized the need for school officials to properly implement state laws regarding the safety and security of public schools during a hearing the committee held on a survey Auditor General Jack Wagner conducted on the issue earlier this year.
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Senate Education Committee Approves Annual Education Spending Reports
After the Senate Education Committee approved legislation requiring the Department of Education to annually provide detailed information on Governor Edward Rendell’s key spending initiatives, committee chairman James J. Rhoades (R-29) said that the committee sent a strong signal that the General Assembly needs clear reports on the programs before legislators appropriate additional state funds.
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Piccola's School Violence Reporting Measure Endorsed by the Senate
The State Senate approved legislation sponsored by Senator Jeffrey Piccola (R-15) that would make it mandatory for the chief administrators of the Commonwealth's schools to report criminal activities to law enforcement officials or face disciplinary action.
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Regola's Home School Bill Heads to Governor 
A bill introduced by Senator Bob Regola that would open extracurricular activities to home educated students is headed to the Governor's desk after receiving final legislative approval.
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Senate Education Committee Votes to Provide Flexibility for Education Spending
Choosing local decision-making over mandatory spending programs, the Senate Education Committee voted to fold a number of Governor Rendell's education spending proposals into the accountability block grant program, eliminating the need to fund them as stand-alone initiatives.
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