THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

SENATE RESOLUTION

INTRODUCED BY SCHWANK, COSTA, HUGHES, WOZNIAK, FONTANA, EARLL, WARD, FERLO, YUDICHAK, STACK, BLAKE, WASHINGTON AND LEACH, JUNE 25, 2012

REFERRED TO EDUCATION, JUNE 25, 2012  

A RESOLUTION

Urging the Governor to develop a comprehensive legislative plan

to improve basic education in the public schools of this

Commonwealth and to establish an advisory commission to study

and make specific recommendations for components of the plan.

WHEREAS, The public schools of this Commonwealth are valued

assets that have provided a quality education to countless

public school students since their inception; and

WHEREAS, School districts in this Commonwealth have recently

experienced significant budget shortfalls over the previous

fiscal years due to the combination of severe cuts in State

funding and the reduced revenue from local school taxes

resulting from the economic downturn; and

WHEREAS, As a result of the severe budget constraints, school

districts have reluctantly been faced with the necessity of

reducing or eliminating components of their educational

programs, such as kindergarten, libraries and the arts and

furloughing experienced professional educators to balance their

budgets; and 

WHEREAS, The structure of State and local funding for school

districts needs to be reviewed and revised as needed to address

equitable funding; and

WHEREAS, The elimination of components of their educational

programs and the necessary furloughs of experienced professional

educators raise questions regarding which educational programs

and what professional educator-to-student ratios are needed to

provide the level of education needed for students to succeed in

the current global economy; and

WHEREAS, Several school districts are experiencing deficits

that have placed them in severe financial distress; therefore be

it

RESOLVED, That the Senate respectfully urge the Governor to

develop a thoughtful and cohesive, comprehensive legislative

plan to improve the education of students in the public schools

of this Commonwealth; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Senate respectfully urge the Governor, in

order to develop the comprehensive legislative plan for public

education, to establish an advisory commission with a sufficient

number of advisory commission members consisting of parents,

teachers, school administrators, business leaders, higher

education leaders and legislators representing a balanced cross

section of the citizens of this Commonwealth to study and

provide specific recommendations for the components of the plan,

including the following issues:

(1)  what sources of State and local funding for basic

education are the best sources of revenue for reliability and

equity;

(2)  what educational programs and professional educator-

to-student ratios are needed for student success in the

current global economy and how they should be evaluated for

impact;

(3)  what is the future role of the Department of

Education in addressing financially distressed school

districts; and

(4)  suggestions for revisions to the Public School Code

of 1949 and recommendations for shared services and school

district consolidation options;

and be it further

RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to

the Governor.