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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2021 - 2022
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | December 3, 2020 03:06 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Karen Boback |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Governor's Schools of Excellence |
| In the near future, I am preparing to re-introduce legislation (formerly HB 1621) that will create the Governor’s Schools of Excellence Act, in order to permanently establish the Governor’s Schools of Excellence. Under the Governor’s Schools of Excellence program (Program), students are selected to attend a multi-week, tuition-free, summer enrichment program hosted at an institution of higher education located in Pennsylvania. The Program was established originally in 1973 with a focus on the arts. Over the next several decades, the Program expanded to include additional areas of study. Although funding for the Program was discontinued in 2009, the Program was funded again for the 2014-2015 fiscal year only. However, my legislation would establish the Program on a permanent basis. Under my legislation, if funding is appropriated for the purpose, the Department of Education (PDE) will establish at least five Governor’s Schools of Excellence in fields that may include agricultural sciences, engineering and technology, sciences, arts, or other disciplines determined by PDE, at institutions of higher education geographically dispersed throughout the Commonwealth and selected on a competitive basis. PDE will administer the Program, under which student participants will be selected through a competitive application process. This legislation will also require each institution operating a Governor’s School of Excellence to contribute at least half the cost of operating its school, in order to stretch Commonwealth funds. I look forward to the permanent establishment of this important Program, which will provide talented and motivated high school students with the opportunity to challenge themselves academically and develop critical leadership skills. I hope you will join me in sponsoring this legislation. Previous sponsors: HILL-EVANS, BERNSTINE, SAMUELSON, FREEMAN, MACKENZIE, LONGIETTI, DeLUCA, CIRESI, ROEBUCK, ULLMAN, A. DAVIS, SHUSTERMAN, KORTZ AND EVERETT |
Introduced as HB539