PRINTER'S NO. 2098
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE RESOLUTION
No.
405
Session of
2020
INTRODUCED BY DINNIMAN, FARNESE AND ARNOLD, OCTOBER 19, 2020
REFERRED TO EDUCATION, OCTOBER 19, 2020
A RESOLUTION
Directing the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to study
the impact of COVID-19 on education in this Commonwealth and
to issue a report.
WHEREAS, The health and safety of students in this
Commonwealth is an utmost priority; and
WHEREAS, The necessary response to the COVID-19 pandemic has
required schools at all levels to provide instruction remotely
on a full-time or part-time basis; and
WHEREAS, While remote learning instruction is preferable to
no instruction, the schools in this Commonwealth have varying
levels of ability and effectiveness in providing remote
instruction; and
WHEREAS, Where the instruction is not effective, loss of
learning for students may result in many students being
significantly behind and in need of extensive remediation; and
WHEREAS, Such loss of learning at all levels of education in
this Commonwealth has the potential to adversely affect the
learning of each student and this Commonwealth as a whole;
therefore be it
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RESOLVED, That the Senate direct the Legislative Budget and
Finance Committee to study the impact of COVID-19 on education
in this Commonwealth and to issue a report; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the study include an analysis of the
following:
(1) the changes to education in preschools and
kindergarten through grade twelve schools as a result of the
COVID-19 pandemic;
(2) the necessary changes following the COVID-19
pandemic to address the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on
student education at all levels;
(3) the impact on the economy that results from the loss
of an entire generation of learners if the education lost
during the COVID-19 pandemic is not remedied;
(4) the degree and type of loss of learning that
occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic;
(5) any demographic group that has experienced losses of
learning during the COVID-19 pandemic;
(6) the effect of the loss of learning in each
demographic group and this Commonwealth, if the loss of
learning during the COVID-19 pandemic is not remedied;
(7) the types of corrective measures or changes that
could be utilized now to address the loss of learning;
(8) the types of corrective measures or changes to
address the loss of learning that would be needed later if no
corrective measures or changes are implemented now; and
(9) the actions that other states are initiating in
terms of loss of learning;
and be it further
RESOLVED, That, in conducting the study, the Legislative
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Budget and Finance Committee consult with education
stakeholders, preschool educators and classroom teachers and
administrators in kindergarten through grade twelve schools,
both public and nonpublic, in this Commonwealth; and be it
further
RESOLVED, That the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee
be prohibited from consulting with entities that currently, or
have the potential to, contract with the Commonwealth in any
manner related to the study or with any private entity that
could financially benefit from a policy change that could result
from the findings or recommendations of the study; and be it
further
RESOLVED, That the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee
prepare and submit a written report with findings and
recommendations regarding the study; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the report be submitted to the Senate within
90 days of the adoption of this resolution.
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