House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda

In the near future I will be introducing legislation to provide bridge funding to the PA Department of Education (PDE) to continue the essential work being done in the Commonwealth under the Federal College Access Challenge Grant.

As of September 1, 2012, the Commonwealth was ineligible to receive this grant due to the inability to meet the maintenance of effort requirements for funding Higher Education in our state under the federal law. However, my legislation would seek to appropriate $4.2 million dollars to the PDE to use to continue the programs that have been assisting our most at risk students with the opportunity to access post-secondary education.

More than 12,000 underrepresented high school students in 11 of our most challenged school districts including Philadelphia, Chester, York, Lancaster and Pittsburgh have benefited from this work since the inception of the Grant program four years ago. Through the PDE Project GRAD has worked with PHEAA, Penn State and Franklin & Marshall College to serve students under the grant program. Project GRAD alone serves 12,000 students each year providing college access, and career and academic supports. Project Grad served 1,779 seniors who earned $19 million dollars in student aid for college this year and provided support for 9th-12th grade students to learn how to go to college. Project Grad has found unique ways to reach students and parents in these communities and has created a college-going culture within these host school districts. The number of students who have been given the opportunity to access post-secondary education has increased significantly: demonstrating a continued need for this program.

Through my legislation, the good work that has been established can continue until the 2013-2014 federal grant is available. The opportunities that will be lost far outweigh the cost of the investment that we must make in order to keep this opportunity in place for Pennsylvania’s children.

If you have any questions regarding this legislation, please contact my office at 717-787-7044.

Thank you in advance for your support.