PRINTER'S NO. 1702
No. 274 Session of 2006
INTRODUCED BY BROWNE, MUSTO, C. WILLIAMS, BOSCOLA, LAVALLE,
COSTA, ERICKSON, KASUNIC, MELLOW, RAFFERTY, PIPPY, CONTI,
ORIE, O'PAKE, KITCHEN, D. WHITE, PILEGGI, WASHINGTON,
FONTANA, LOGAN, RHOADES, LEMMOND, STACK AND WAUGH,
APRIL 17, 2006
REFERRED TO EDUCATION, APRIL 17, 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 the 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 No Child Left Behind law providing
15 that all students will demonstrate proficiency in reading,
16 writing, science and math by 2014 is supported through State
17 policies in Pennsylvania; and
18 WHEREAS, These ambitious expectations for academic success
1 for all students are appropriate and necessary to serve the
2 interests of each student and the Commonwealth in a time of
3 changing State and national economies and global competition for
4 our citizens and businesses; and
5 WHEREAS, The Commonwealth has stated through policy that it
6 values these ambitious expectations for all students and that
7 students and schools will be held accountable for their
8 accomplishment; and
9 WHEREAS, It is imperative that State policymakers and the
10 public know and understand the educational resources and related
11 costs necessary to support the expectations for academic
12 proficiency for all students; and
13 WHEREAS, All children should be afforded access to quality
14 public education no matter where they live or their family
15 income level; and
16 WHEREAS, The Commonwealth needs to establish and maintain an
17 effective Statewide system of funding public education;
18 therefore be it
19 RESOLVED (the House of Representatives concurring), That the
20 General Assembly direct the Legislative Budget and Finance
21 Committee to conduct or otherwise provide for a comprehensive
22 Statewide costing-out study to:
23 (1) Determine what educational resources and related
24 expenditures are required to provide primary and secondary
25 education for each student in the public schools throughout
26 this Commonwealth, consistent with the Commonwealth's system
27 of academic standards and assessments.
28 (2) Consider extraordinary needs of students and schools
29 attributable to circumstances such as poverty, limited
30 English proficiency and disabilities;
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1 and be it further
2 RESOLVED, That the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee
3 may hire or retain consultants as necessary to assist in the
4 performance of its duties under this resolution; and be it
5 further
6 RESOLVED, That the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee
7 may issue an interim report and shall provide a final report of
8 its findings and recommendations to the members of the General
9 Assembly within one year after the adoption of this resolution;
10 and be it further
11 RESOLVED, That upon receipt of the final report, the General
12 Assembly shall promptly review and consider the recommendations
13 of the study and develop legislation as deemed appropriate for
14 its consideration.
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