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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2023 - 2024
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | May 29, 2024 03:36 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Jesse Topper |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Grants for Shared Administrative Services, Instructional Programming, and Consolidation Feasibility Studies |
| Fostering collaborations among school entities through the sharing of administrative and instructional services presents an opportunity to streamline operations, elevate the caliber of programs, redirect resources to where they are needed most - the classroom, and unlock new educational possibilities for students across the Commonwealth. To encourage and support these transformative partnerships, I am introducing legislation that will expand the scope of grants available for administrative partnerships, ensuring that they encompass instructional programming partnerships and consolidation feasibility studies. By providing financial incentives, this legislation aims to empower school entities to explore and embrace innovative models of collaboration that will yield lasting benefits for our educational system and the students it serves. The grant program will incentivize school entities to partner and share administrative functions and instructional programming. By working together, schools can reduce costs, eliminate redundancies, and deliver services more effectively. Importantly, the program provides funding for school districts to explore the feasibility of consolidation or merger. Consolidation studies can identify potential benefits and challenges, empowering districts to make informed decisions that best serve their communities. Grant awards will prioritize school districts that have already demonstrated a commitment to collaboration. This rewards proactive districts and encourages others to follow their lead. Participating school entities must report on their progress, outcomes, and any obstacles encountered. This transparency allows the Commonwealth to assess the program's impact and make data-driven improvements over time. In an era of limited resources and evolving educational needs, it is crucial that we empower school entities to work together, streamline operations, and redirect savings into classroom instruction. This legislation does exactly that. I urge all members of the General Assembly to cosponsor this bill. By facilitating partnerships and encouraging smart consolidation, we can strengthen educational opportunities for students while responsibly stewarding taxpayer dollars. |
Introduced as HB2386