Senate Co-Sponsorship Memoranda

In the near future, I plan to introduce a companion bill to Representative Solomon’s HB 796. This legislation aims to create a grant program that incentivizes new apprenticeships between business and public school districts around the state. It will establish a pipeline for young people from high school into stable, well-paying jobs in their communities, and help employers fill vacancies that, left unfilled, decrease productivity and profitability.

The new curriculum will be delivered in local high schools, which keeps those students in their comfort zone with their friends and community support networks. It will also encourage and establish working partnerships between local business and local schools, which makes the whole community stronger.

Youth unemployment is rampant in both urban and rural areas in Pennsylvania, so grant dollars will be awarded in a geographically diverse manner to place CTE teachers in our schools. By expanding business-school partnerships to redesign vocational curricula in different parts of the state, we will encourage innovation in youth workforce development.

Please join me in co-sponsoring this important legislation.