PRINTER'S NO. 2378
No. 383 Session of 2005
INTRODUCED BY STAIRS, JUNE 29, 2005
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35,
JUNE 29, 2005
A RESOLUTION
1 Amending House Resolution No. 3, adopted February 1, 2005,
2 entitled "A resolution establishing the Speaker's Education
3 Innovation Awards program, to be known publicly as "Golden
4 Apple Awards"; and establishing an advisory committee,"
5 further providing for membership of advisory committee, for
6 expenses and for a time period for first Golden Apple Awards.
7 RESOLVED, That House Resolution No. 3, adopted February 1,
8 2005, be amended to read:
9 A RESOLUTION
10 Establishing the Speaker's Education Innovation Awards program,
11 to be known publicly as "Golden Apple Awards"; and
12 establishing an advisory committee.
13 WHEREAS, One of the concerns frequently voiced about
14 educational policy development lies with the tendency to
15 constantly implement new agendas and initiatives prior to
16 identifying and attempting to replicate successful
17 groundbreaking programs that may already be operating in
18 educational institutions; and
19 WHEREAS, Many successful programs are currently being
1 utilized in public school entities throughout this Commonwealth
2 which allow for improved use of human and fiscal resources and
3 enhanced learning in the classroom; and
4 WHEREAS, These innovative programs form the basis for school
5 reform and the future of public education; and
6 WHEREAS, The House of Representatives recognizes that it is
7 in the best interests of this Commonwealth's students, parents,
8 teachers, administrators and taxpayers to publicly recognize
9 successful and innovative efforts in the hope that other school
10 entities will replicate these models; therefore be it
11 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives establish the
12 Speaker's Education Innovation Awards program, to be known
13 publicly as the "Golden Apple Awards," as a means of identifying
14 and rewarding commendable educational programs currently
15 operated by public school entities throughout this Commonwealth
16 so they can potentially be replicated by other school entities;
17 and be it further
18 RESOLVED, That the Speaker of the House of Representatives
19 appoint an advisory committee to oversee the development and
20 implementation of this program whose membership shall include
21 the following:
22 (1) The majority and minority chairpersons of the House
23 Committee on Education.
24 (2) Five additional members of the House of
25 Representatives, two of whom shall be recommended to the
26 Speaker by the Minority Leader of the House of
27 Representatives.
28 (3) The Secretary of Education or his designee.
29 (4) Two representatives from this Commonwealth's
30 business community, one of whom shall be recommended to the
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1 Speaker by the Minority Leader of the House of
2 Representatives.
3 (5) Two classroom teachers, one of whom shall be
4 recommended to the Speaker by each of the established
5 recognized organizations representing public school
6 employees.
7 (6) Two chief school administrators recommended to the
8 Speaker by an established, recognized association
9 representing school administrators.
10 (7) The Chancellor of the State System of Higher
11 Education or her designee.
12 (8) A representative recommended to the Speaker by an
13 established, recognized organization representing other
14 colleges and universities in this Commonwealth.
15 (9) A parent recommended to the Speaker by the
16 Pennsylvania Parent Teachers Association.
17 (10) A representative of the public media recommended to
18 the Speaker by the Pennsylvania Legislative Correspondents'
19 Association;
20 (11) A representative recommended to the Speaker by the
21 Pennsylvania Commission on Community Colleges.
22 (12) A public school director recommended to the Speaker
23 by the Pennsylvania School Boards Association;
24 and be it further
25 RESOLVED, That members of the advisory committee appointed
26 for the 2005-2006 legislative session serve until November 30,
27 2006, with the advisory committee being reconstituted by the
28 Speaker of the House of Representatives at the beginning of each
29 subsequent legislative session; and be it further
30 RESOLVED, That the advisory committee have the duties and
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1 responsibilities to:
2 (1) Develop and implement a process for soliciting
3 nominations for the Golden Apple Awards.
4 (2) Develop and implement a procedure for reviewing
5 nominated programs and selecting winners.
6 (3) Determine the award design and whether to include a
7 financial reward and, if so, to determine the value and means
8 of funding.
9 (4) Develop a plan for publicizing the awards and making
10 other school districts aware of award-winning programs.
11 (5) Set a timetable for implementation and identify
12 those areas in which awards will be presented, including, at
13 a minimum: school safety, including alternative education,
14 teacher professional development and induction, use of
15 technology, fiscal management, curriculum innovation, student
16 health and social service programs, parental involvement,
17 early childhood and kindergarten programs, partnerships with
18 business and higher education and facilities construction and
19 maintenance, including innovative building designs and "green
20 buildings";
21 and be it further
22 RESOLVED, That any and all necessary, appropriate and
23 reasonable expenses incurred by the advisory committee in
24 carrying out its responsibilities, including, but not limited
25 to, per diem and travel expenses incurred by members and staff,
26 stenographic charges and other incidental expenses and special
27 contracting and consulting services expenses, be paid from
28 appropriate accounts under the control of the Chief Clerk of the
29 House of Representatives; and be it further
30 RESOLVED, That the advisory committee award its first Golden
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1 Apple Awards [no later than six months after the adoption of
2 this resolution] during the 2005-2006 school year.
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