THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

SENATE BILL

INTRODUCED BY WASHINGTON, BOSCOLA, COSTA, ERICKSON, GREENLEAF, TARTAGLIONE, M. WHITE, WILLIAMS, FERLO AND FARNESE, FEBRUARY 10, 2011

SENATOR PICCOLA, EDUCATION, AS AMENDED, JUNE 14, 2011   

AN ACT

Establishing the MESA Initiative; providing for duties of the

Department of Education; and establishing the State MESA

Commission.

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

hereby enacts as follows:

Section 1.  Short title.

This act shall be known and may be cited as the Pennsylvania

MESA Initiative Act.

Section 2.  Definitions.

The following words and phrases when used in this act shall

have the meanings given to them in this section unless the

context clearly indicates otherwise:

"Commission."  The State MESA Commission established under

section 5.

"Department."  The Department of Education of the

Commonwealth.

"MESA."  Mathematics, engineering and science achievement.

"MESA Initiative."  The program established under section 3

to promote science, engineering and mathematics education.

"STEM."  Science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

Section 3.  MESA Initiative.

The MESA Initiative is hereby established Not later than 18

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months from the effective date of this act, the department shall

establish the MESA Initiative as a program within the

department. The MESA Initiative shall seek to increase exposure,

educational motivation and achievement of students in science,

engineering and mathematics and build individual and regional

capacity to compete for STEM-based jobs in the global market

with a particular emphasis on students, parents, educators and

employers from urban and rural groups who have historically had

the lowest levels of high school degree attainment and

participation in college and graduate education.

Section 4.  Administration of MESA Initiative.

(a)  Designation of administrative agency.--The department

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shall administer the MESA Initiative, including Statewide MESA

funding, operations, regional groups, programs and evaluations.

(b) (a)  Coordination.--The department shall coordinate the

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efforts of the all Commonwealth agencies that relate to MESA

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education from the kindergarten level through the graduate level 

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kindergarten through grade 12 and with institutions of higher

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education to avoid unnecessary duplication of initiatives and

ensure adherence to established guidelines.

(c) (b)  Structure of STEM regions.--The department shall

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work with the TEAM PA Foundation and the five established STEM

regions in this Commonwealth to create in each STEM region an

infrastructure for the MESA Initiative to support not fewer than

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four professional staff, 20 retired industry mentors, 20

certified MESA teacher-coordinators and school administrators.

(d)  Duties.--The department shall have the following duties 

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(c)  Duties.--In consultation with the commission, Commonwealth

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agencies, institutions of higher education, the TEAM PA

Foundation and the STEM regions, the department shall:

(1)  Develop annual goals and objectives for improving

MESA programs throughout this Commonwealth with particular

emphasis on regional economic and educational needs.

(2)  No later than 30 days after developing the goals and

objectives under paragraph (1):

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(i)  Disseminate the goals and objectives to the

State MESA Commission and the MESA regions.

(ii)  Communicate the goals and objectives to all

relevant agencies of the Commonwealth and collaborative

regional entities.

(iii)  Make the goals and objectives available to the

general public, particularly to stakeholders.,

communicate the goals and objectives to all relevant agencies

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of the Commonwealth, the STEM regions and the public by

making the goals and objectives available on the department's

publicly accessible Internet website.

(3)  Coordinate and facilitate communication and

cooperation among all MESA regions and assure compliance with

established guidelines for the MESA Initiative.

(4)  Conduct an ongoing inventory and assessment of the

effectiveness and coherence of efforts within the MESA

regions.

(5)  Annually After an initial evaluation, biennially 

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evaluate the progress and success of the MESA regions at

achieving the goals and objectives under paragraph (1).

(6)  Consult with Commonwealth agencies when developing

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policies and initiatives related to MESA.

(7) (6)  Strengthen partnerships between the national

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MESA community, Federal, State and local governments and

relevant international partners.

(8)  Conduct an annual meeting on the status of the MESA

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Initiative, in conjunction with:

(i)  Relevant State agencies.

(ii)  The State MESA Commission, as hosting entity.

(iii)  Other state MESA Initiatives.

(iv)  Regional businesses and industries.

(v)  The State System of Higher Education.

(vi)  Education professionals from the kindergarten

through graduate levels.

(vii)  Other relevant stakeholders.

Section 5.  State MESA Commission.

(a)  Establishment.--There is hereby established a State MESA

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Commission to oversee the advancement of mathematics,

engineering, science and technology education.

(b)  Membership.--The commission shall consist of the

following members:

(a)  Establishment.--There is established within the State

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Board of Education under the Council of Basic Education a State

MESA Commission to oversee the advancement of science,

technology, engineering and mathematics education.

(b)  Membership.--The commission shall consist of not more

than 20 members, including the following:

(1)  Not fewer than two representatives from each MESA

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region. Two representatives from each STEM.

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(2)  Elected officials, representatives of the department

and stakeholders as appointed by the department.

(c)  Study.--The commission shall evaluate and report to the

General Assembly annually biennially on the following:

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(1)  Efficacy of Statewide MESA Initiatives.

(2)  Effective utilization of MESA Initiative resources.

(3)  Influence of the MESA Initiative on:

(i)  Student STEM aptitudes, as measured by

standardized testing.

(ii)  Teacher effectiveness.

(iii)  STEM-based employment within MESA regions.

(d)  Fiscal planning.--The commission shall propose a budget

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for the MESA Initiative aligned with the goals developed under

section 4(d)(1).

(e) (d)  Meetings.--The commission shall meet no less often

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than quarterly.

Section 6.  Effective date.

This act shall take effect in 60 days.