PRINTER'S NO. 1763
No. 169 Session of 2002
INTRODUCED BY C. WILLIAMS, O'PAKE, STOUT, WAGNER, ORIE, KITCHEN,
LOGAN AND COSTA, MARCH 5, 2002
REFERRED TO EDUCATION, MARCH 5, 2002
A RESOLUTION
1 Declaring that all Pennsylvania school students have the right
2 to the surety that they are safe, and requesting from the
3 Department of Education an accounting and evaluation of
4 professional guidance services and aid that can be provided
5 to local school districts.
6 WHEREAS, In the wake of the tragedy of September 11, 2001, in
7 which thousands of innocent lives were lost, the nation searches
8 for answers to our children's questions and ways to allay their
9 fears; and
10 WHEREAS, The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania finds its school
11 districts dealing with tough issues in unsettled times; and
12 WHEREAS, When once it was commonly assumed that school, next
13 to the home, was the safest place a child could be, incidents of
14 terroristic violence, including those which occurred in
15 Washington, New York and Pennsylvania, have damaged this
16 perception; and
17 WHEREAS, The limited resources of many of the Commonwealth's
18 local school districts are being stretched near to capacity; and
19 WHEREAS, School districts are finding that the services of
1 professional guidance counselors are needed to aid students in
2 coping with and understanding terroristic violence; and
3 WHEREAS, The Department of Education needs to take an active
4 role in addressing the needs of local school districts for
5 professional guidance and technical support; therefore be it
6 RESOLVED, That the Senate declare that all Pennsylvania
7 school students and their parents have the right to the surety
8 that schools and classrooms are, indeed, safe places; and be it
9 further
10 RESOLVED, That the Senate request from the Department of
11 Education a report on professional guidance counselor services
12 provided by local school districts, including services directed
13 to assist students in coping with and understanding terroristic
14 violence. This report shall also document needs of local school
15 districts for professional guidance counselor services and
16 Federal and State aid that can be provided to local school
17 districts to meet these needs. This report is to be submitted to
18 the Senate by March 31, 2002.
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