Education
Promoting fiscally responsible funding and 21st century academic standards.

---

News

• Pennsylvania's School Choice Movement Must Address the 'Bottom 5%' 11/30/11
• Senate Approves Piccola-Williams Legislation Calling for School Choice Expansion 10/26/11
• Education Committee Advances Piccola-Williams Amendment to Senate Bill 1 10/25/11
• Senate Approves Bill Providing for Valley Forge Appointments 10/19/11
• Senate Appropriations Panel to Hold Hearing At Millersville University on the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education 10/25/11
• Senate Appropriations Committee to Hold Hearings At Temple & Lincoln Universities on Higher Education Issues 10/5/11
• Senate Committee to Hold Hearing at University of Pittsburgh on Higher Education Issues 9/8/11
• Piccola Calls City Officials' Latest Actions 'Reckless' & Urges Governor To Enforce Law and Plan for State Takeover 9/1/11
• Senate Panel to Hold Hearing in State College on Higher Education Issues 9/1/11
• Senate Education Chair Reacts to Auditor General's Recommendations 8/29/11
• Senate Education Committee Hears Testimony on Chairmen's Charter School Bill 8/25/11
• Senate Education Committee Chair Comments on Resignation of Philadelphia Superintendent 8/23/11
• Media Advisory: Senate Education Committee Announces Summer & Fall Hearing Schedule 8/11/11
• Safety Initiatives Sponsored by Piccola Included in Final School Code 7/6/11
• Legislature to Return $50 Million Surplus for Public Schools 6/30/11
• Education Chair Issues Statement on School Choice Legislation 6/29/11
• Omnibus Public School Code Amendment Approved by Education Committee 6/27/11
• Committee Chairmen Applaud Panel's Endorsement of Senate Bill 1087 6/14/11

Legislation

Act 25 of 2011 reduces the number of exceptions school districts can seek when seeking to raise taxes above the inflation index without a voter referendum. Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati (R-Jefferson)

Senate Bill 1 creates an opportunity scholarship program for students in low-achieving schools and includes several provisions to improve accountability and expand development of charter schools and cyber charter schools. Senate Education Committee Chair Jeffrey Piccola (R-Dauphin)

Senate Bill 858 gives districts the option to hire superintendents who have a graduate degree in business or finance. Sen. Mike Waugh (R-York) (Enacted in School Code, Act 24 of 2011.)

Senate Bill 872 removes the requirement for school districts with dual enrollment programs to establish a concurrent enrollment committee and relaxes some state mandates for participating schools. Sen. Mike Brubaker (R-Lancaster)

Senate Bill 224 places a lifetime employment ban in schools for those who have been convicted of serious violent offenses, and a 10-year ban for any other felony crime. Senate Education Committee Chair Jeffrey Piccola (R-Dauphin) (Enacted in School Code, Act 24 of 2011.)

Senate Bill 343 restricts the state Department of Education to collecting only information identifying individual college students when specifically required by law, and requires it to describe in detail its legal authority to collect the information and allow students to opt out of the system. Senate Education Committee Chair Jeffrey Piccola (R-Dauphin) (Enacted in School Code, Act 24 of 2011.)

More News

• Scarnati Bill Would Allow Small Businesses to Pay Their School Taxes in Installments 5/11/11
• Senate Approves Piccola's Legislation Establishing Tougher School Hiring Policies 5/10/11
• Senate Passes Waugh Legislation to Ease Hiring Restrictions for School Superintendents 5/10/11
• Senate Approves Brubaker Dual Enrollment Mandate Relief Proposal 5/10/11
• Senate Endorses Student Privacy Bill Sponsored by Piccola 5/2/11
• Brubaker Bill Would Reduce Pension Costs for School Districts 4/7/11
• Education Committee Approves Legislation Providing Mandate Relief and Taxpayer Protections 4/5/11
• Brubaker Legislation Would Give Taxpayers More Control Over Property Tax Hikes 3/29/11
• Charter School Reform Bill Unveiled by Education Committee Chairmen 3/28/11
• Education Chairs & Senators Unveil Mandate Relief Package 3/22/11
• Folmer's Legislation Would Highlight Contracts Between Department of Education and State Intermediate Units 3/14/11
• Brubaker Introduces Legislation to Reduce Costs for Public Building Projects 3/8/11
• Sen. Browne, Rep. Mundy Reaffirm Commitment to PA Youth 3/2/11
• Piccola & Williams Applaud Committee's Endorsement of Senate Bill 1 3/1/11
• Education Chairs Lead Effort to Make School Data Available to Public 2/23/11
• Piccola Refutes Teachers' Union's Cost Figures 2/16/11
• Senate Education Committee Endorses School Safety Measure 2/8/11
• Piccola's Student Privacy Bill Advances 2/8/11
• Education Committee Approves Browne's Concussion Bill 2/8/11
• Education Committee Ok's Compact for Military Families 2/8/11
• Piccola Challenges School Boards' Choice Stance 1/21/11
• Piccola Praises Governor-Elect Corbett's Education Secretary Nominee 1/13/11
• Williams and Piccola Unveil School Choice Plan 1/11/11