PRINTER'S NO. 1351
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE RESOLUTION
No.
227
Session of
2024
INTRODUCED BY SCHWANK, COSTA, HAYWOOD, FONTANA, HUGHES, COMITTA,
CAPPELLETTI, TARTAGLIONE, KEARNEY AND BREWSTER,
FEBRUARY 2, 2024
REFERRED TO EDUCATION, FEBRUARY 2, 2024
A RESOLUTION
Urging the Governor to develop a comprehensive legislative plan
to improve basic education in the public schools of this
Commonwealth and to establish an advisory commission to study
and make specific recommendations for components of the plan.
WHEREAS, The public schools of this Commonwealth are valued
assets that have provided a quality education to countless
public school students since their inception; and
WHEREAS, School districts in this Commonwealth have
experienced significant budget shortfalls over previous fiscal
years due to the combination of cuts in State funding, reduced
revenue from local school taxes and the proliferation of funding
for public school alternatives; and
WHEREAS, As a result of the severe budget constraints, school
districts have reluctantly been faced with the necessity of
reducing or eliminating components of their educational
programs, such as kindergarten, libraries and the arts and
furloughing experienced professional educators to balance their
budgets; and
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WHEREAS, The structure of State and local funding for school
districts needs to be reviewed and revised as needed to address
equitable funding; and
WHEREAS, The elimination of components of educational
programs and the necessary furloughs of experienced professional
educators raise questions regarding which educational programs
and what professional educator-to-student ratios are needed to
provide the level of education needed for students to succeed in
the current global economy; and
WHEREAS, Several school districts are experiencing deficits
that have placed them in severe financial distress; therefore be
it
RESOLVED, That the Senate respectfully urge the Governor to
develop a thoughtful, cohesive and comprehensive legislative
plan to improve basic education in the public schools of this
Commonwealth; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Senate respectfully urge the Governor, in
order to develop the comprehensive legislative plan for public
education, to establish an advisory commission with a sufficient
number of advisory commission members consisting of parents,
teachers, school administrators, business leaders, higher
education leaders and legislators representing a balanced cross
section of the citizens of this Commonwealth to study and
provide specific recommendations for the components of the plan,
including the following issues:
(1) what sources of State and local funding for basic
education are the best sources of revenue for reliability and
equity;
(2) what educational programs and professional educator-
to-student ratios are needed for student success in the
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current global economy and how they should be evaluated for
impact;
(3) what is the future role of the Department of
Education in addressing financially distressed school
districts; and
(4) suggestions for revisions to the Public School Code
of 1949 and recommendations for shared services and school
district consolidation options;
and be it further
RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to
the Governor.
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