PRINTER'S NO. 4157
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
952
Session of
2020
INTRODUCED BY HOWARD, RYAN, SHUSTERMAN, T. DAVIS, DALEY AND
NEILSON, JULY 22, 2020
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, JULY 22, 2020
A RESOLUTION
Establishing a legislative task force on remote learning to
study the effects of remote learning on educational outcomes,
social-emotional health, mental health and overall student
well-being and directing the Joint State Government
Commission to establish an advisory committee to study and
report on critical factors and barriers to successful
implementation of remote learning, with special attention
given to educational outcomes, social-emotional, mental and
physical health and best practices that may inform future
research, legislation and school policies.
WHEREAS, The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated sudden and
dramatic changes to school instruction; and
WHEREAS, Schools were engaged in an extended period of remote
learning without sufficient planning, delivering instruction in
myriad ways to students of varying means, abilities and
circumstances; and
WHEREAS, Many students will at least partially engage in
remote learning in the 2020-2021 academic year and beyond; and
WHEREAS, There is little research examining remote learning
and its effects on educational outcomes and student well-being
relative to geographic, linguistic and socioeconomic
backgrounds; and
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WHEREAS, Data-driven, evidence-based best practices are
required for more effective remote learning; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the Joint State Government Commission
establish a task force on remote learning; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the task force be comprised of the following:
(1) The chair and minority chair of the Children and
Youth Committee of the House of Representatives.
(2) Two members of the House of Representatives
appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
(3) One member of the House of Representatives appointed
by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives;
and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Joint State Government Commission
establish an advisory committee consisting of the following
members:
(1) The Secretary of Education of the Commonwealth or a
designee.
(2) An individual selected by the Joint State Government
Commission for their expertise in educational research.
(3) Two K-12 educators from urban school districts.
(4) Two K-12 educators from suburban school districts.
(5) Two K-12 educators from rural school districts.
(6) One K-12 administrator.
(7) One telecommunications expert;
and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Joint State Government Commission, in
conjunction with the advisory committee, conduct a study of the
effects of remote learning on academic achievement, social-
emotional health, mental health and overall well-being using a
representative sample of Commonwealth students; and be it
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further
RESOLVED, That the student sample reflect this Commonwealth
as a whole, with demographic diversity as to special education,
English-language learning and economic disadvantage, and
geographic distribution representing urban and rural
communities; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the study consist in part of methods that
include, where possible:
(1) Results of standardized testing chosen by the
advisory committee and administered by the Joint State
Government Commission to assess math and reading skills.
(2) Results of Pennsylvania System of School Assessment
(PSSA) testing for the grade level most recently completed by
participating students.
(3) A measure of social-emotional health to be completed
by participating students or a caregiver as the Joint State
Government Commission deems necessary.
(4) A measure of overall well-being, including mental
health, physical health, physical activity, food insecurity
and housing insecurity.
(5) A survey of students' caregivers, including
questions about their experience with remote learning, their
child's response to remote learning, stressors in the home
and individualized needs for the coming academic year;
and be it further
RESOLVED, That school districts with participating students
provide information regarding their remote learning program,
including frequency of instruction, content of instruction and
additional support measures provided to families; and be it
further
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RESOLVED, That students and caregivers be notified that
participation is voluntary and that student academic performance
is not being evaluated; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Joint State Government Commission may
compensate the families of participating students to incentivize
participation; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Joint State Government Commission may
request that participating students and their families complete
the same or similar measures throughout the 2020-2021 academic
year to observe changes or trends, with special attention to
changes in student social-emotional health; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Joint State Government Commission may hold
informational meetings to receive testimony from experts and
others as it deems necessary; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Joint State Government Commission may use
information and resources from the Federal Government, other
state governments and nongovernmental organizations as
appropriate; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the task force issue a preliminary report of
its findings and recommendations to the relevant committees of
the House of Representatives and the Senate no later than 120
days after the adoption of this resolution; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the task force issue a final report of its
findings and recommendations to the relevant committees of the
House of Representatives and the Senate no later than 365 days
after the adoption of this resolution, which report shall
include, but not be limited to, best practices and
recommendations for laws and regulations.
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