PRINTER'S NO. 3869
No. 696 Session of 2006
INTRODUCED BY VEON, DeWEESE, BELARDI, BEYER, BOYD, CALTAGIRONE,
D. EVANS, FRANKEL, JAMES, LaGROTTA, LEH, MACKERETH,
MANDERINO, MANN, MUSTIO, PALLONE, PARKER, READSHAW, RUBLEY,
SANTONI, SAYLOR, SIPTROTH, SOLOBAY, STURLA, SURRA, TANGRETTI,
E. Z. TAYLOR, THOMAS, TIGUE, WHEATLEY, GEORGE, YUDICHAK,
BELFANTI, ROEBUCK, KOTIK, BUXTON, BLACKWELL, WALKO, STABACK,
GOODMAN, LEACH, CURRY, MUNDY, WANSACZ, SHAPIRO, JOSEPHS AND
GRUCELA, APRIL 5, 2006
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, APRIL 5, 2006
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
1 Directing the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to
2 conduct a comprehensive Statewide costing-out study
3 concerning the educational resources and related costs
4 necessary to support the expectations for academic
5 proficiency for all students.
6 WHEREAS, The General Assembly is charged under the provisions
7 of the Constitution of Pennsylvania to provide for a thorough
8 and efficient system of public education to serve the needs of
9 this Commonwealth; and
10 WHEREAS, State policies that have established Statewide
11 academic standards and assessments have created in law the
12 expectation that all students will achieve defined proficiencies
13 in core academic subjects; and
14 WHEREAS, The goal of the Federal No Child Left Behind Act of
15 2001 providing that all students will demonstrate proficiency in
16 reading, writing, science and math by 2014 is supported through
1 State policies in Pennsylvania; and
2 WHEREAS, These ambitious expectations for academic success
3 for all students are appropriate and necessary to serve the
4 interests of each student and this Commonwealth in a time of
5 changing State and national economies and global competition for
6 our citizens and businesses; and
7 WHEREAS, The Commonwealth has stated through policy that it
8 values these ambitious expectations for all students and that
9 students and schools will be held accountable for their
10 accomplishment; and
11 WHEREAS, It is imperative that State policymakers and the
12 public know and understand the educational resources and related
13 costs necessary to support the expectations for academic
14 proficiency for all students; and
15 WHEREAS, All children should be afforded access to quality
16 public education no matter where they live or their families'
17 income; and
18 WHEREAS, Pennsylvania needs to establish and maintain an
19 effective Statewide system of funding public education in this
20 Commonwealth; therefore be it
21 RESOLVED (the Senate concurring), That the General Assembly
22 direct the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to conduct
23 or otherwise provide for a comprehensive Statewide costing-out
24 study to:
25 (1) determine what educational resources and related
26 expenditures are required to provide a high-quality preschool
27 to grade 12 education for each student in the public schools
28 throughout this Commonwealth, consistent with the
29 Commonwealth's system of academic standards and assessments;
30 and
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1 (2) consider extraordinary needs of students and schools
2 attributable to circumstances such as poverty, limited
3 English proficiency and disabilities;
4 and be it further
5 RESOLVED, That the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee
6 may hire or retain consultants as necessary to assist in the
7 performance of its duties under this resolution; and be it
8 further
9 RESOLVED, That the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee
10 may issue an interim report; and be it further
11 RESOLVED, That the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee
12 provide a final report of its findings and recommendations by
13 November 30, 2006, to the members of the General Assembly; and
14 be it further
15 RESOLVED, That upon receipt of the final report, the General
16 Assembly promptly review and consider the recommendations of the
17 study and develop legislation as deemed appropriate for its
18 consideration.
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