THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

SENATE RESOLUTION

INTRODUCED BY SCARNATI, PICCOLA, M. WHITE AND D. WHITE, JUNE 17, 2011

SENATOR PICCOLA, EDUCATION, AS AMENDED, JUNE 27, 2011   

A RESOLUTION

Directing the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to

examine the Commonwealth's programs for postsecondary

education in Commonwealth rural communities and to make

recommendations for improving the delivery of open admissions

and affordable, high-quality community and technical

education in such areas.

WHEREAS, The mission of Pennsylvania's community and

technical colleges is to increase the work force readiness

skills and educational attainment of Pennsylvanians; and

WHEREAS, This Commonwealth's community and technical colleges

provide an exceptional educational value for more than 220,000

Pennsylvanians annually; and

WHEREAS, There are large areas of rural Pennsylvania,

including an 11-county area in northwestern/central Pennsylvania

that is geographically larger than Massachusetts, that have no

community colleges; and

WHEREAS, The Commonwealth's funding formula for community

colleges requires a de facto one-third local share contribution;

and

WHEREAS, Many rural counties and communities cannot afford

the required local share for community college funding; and

WHEREAS, The Educational Consortium of the Upper Allegheny

(ECUA), a tax-exempt organization under section 501(c)(3) of the

Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (Public Law 99-514, 26 U.S.C. §

501(c)(3)), has established agreements and signed resolutions

with 30 school districts and four career and technical centers

in 10 of the 11 counties to cooperate in the implementation of

regional community college programs and services utilizing

existing facilities; and

WHEREAS, The ECUA currently works collaboratively with the

Community Education Councils community education councils; and

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WHEREAS, The ECUA has established agreements with Butler

County Community College and Harrisburg Area Community College;

and

WHEREAS, For persons living in rural Pennsylvania, the

requirement to drive an hour or more one way, coupled with the

cost of gasoline, books and tuition, often can make pursuit of a

postsecondary education an out-of-reach goal; and 

WHEREAS, The medium family income of the 11 counties is

$8,000, or 20%, below the State average and low levels of

educational attainment are linked to poverty; and

WHEREAS, In the 1960s, when Pennsylvania's community college

system was created, it was envisioned as a system of 28

community and technical colleges; and

WHEREAS, Today, that goal is only at the halfway mark, with

14 community colleges founded under the act of August 24, 1963

(P.L.1132, No.484), known as the Community College Act of 1963;

and

WHEREAS, Among the 50 states, this Commonwealth ranks 46th in

the number of community colleges per capita; and

WHEREAS, States vary widely in their commitment and approach

to funding community colleges; and 

WHEREAS, Many rural areas, both in Pennsylvania and other

states, have created innovative and collaborative approaches to

providing community college opportunities that do not require

the construction of new buildings and facilities; and 

WHEREAS, While not thoroughly tested in time, the ECUA model

is an innovative approach with merit which could service the 11

counties and could be a model for other rural regions of this

Commonwealth; therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the Senate direct the Legislative Budget and

Finance Committee to conduct a study of the need for additional

community college educational opportunities in this

Commonwealth's rural communities; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the study include at a minimum an analysis of

the following:

(1)  the current system for funding community and

technical colleges in Pennsylvania and the impact of that

system on this Commonwealth's rural counties and communities;

(2)  the location of postsecondary educational

institutions in Pennsylvania's rural counties;

(3)  the role of the ECUA in collaboration with Community

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Education Councils community education councils in supporting

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additional community college educational opportunities for

Pennsylvania's rural citizens; and

(4)  funding approaches used in other states to support

community college educational opportunities in rural areas;

and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee

consult with the Center for Rural Pennsylvania, the Pennsylvania

Commission for Community Colleges, the Educational Consortium of

the Upper Allegheny, community education councils and other

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individuals and organizations as the committee deems

appropriate; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee

provide recommendations necessary or desirable to improve the

postsecondary educational opportunities, particularly through

community and technical colleges, available to citizens living

in this Commonwealth's rural counties; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee

provide recommendations for the best approach to funding

community college programming in rural areas; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee

analyze the relationship of postsecondary costs to the

participation rates of low-income families; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee

report to the Senate the results of its findings and

recommendations by October 31, 2011.