Posted: | June 27, 2022 08:47 AM |
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From: | Representative Joe Webster |
To: | All House members |
Subject: | Study on JROTC Programs in Schools |
I am introducing legislation to direct the Joint State Government Commission to conduct a comprehensive study on JROTC programs in Pennsylvania. Specifically, the study would provide a greater understanding of the current health of JROTC programs in Pennsylvania, trends in enrollment and availability of JROTC programs, and contributing factors to the health, enrollment, and availability of JROTC programs. The commission would submit their report along with legislative recommendations to the General Assembly. Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC) programs are offered in some high schools across Pennsylvania and are meant to instill in students the values of citizenship, service, and personal responsibility. Additionally, JROTC offers curriculum that meets the common core state standards. Schools must apply to a specific military branch in order to implement such a program and commit to share costs and meet program requirements, such as a certain enrollment number. Not all schools in Pennsylvania offer a JROTC program, and it is unclear what driving forces are behind the lack of offerings. JROTC programs provide students with the opportunity to develop life skills and gain exposure to military service as a potential career path, however, this opportunity currently depends on where the student lives. I hope you will join me in supporting this legislation so we can better understand how we can help more schools provide this opportunity to their students, no matter where they live in Pennsylvania. |
Introduced as HR225