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In this Update:
Senate Higher Education Legislation Moving Forward
The Senate Education Committee advanced six bills from the Grow PA plan at the beginning of the month. The plan promotes career and technical education and dual enrollment, which allows high school students to take college classes. It will also encourage more students from Pennsylvania and other states to study here and stay here after graduation. Pennsylvania is facing a series of connected challenges: a struggling workforce, rising education costs, declining enrollments, all perpetuated by our demographic decline. By taking strong action now, we’re preparing the next generation of Pennsylvanians for productive, fulfilling, family-sustaining careers. Afterschool Programs in Northeastern Pennsylvania Facing Possible Closure
Thousands of children in northeastern Pennsylvania may lose their valuable afterschool services in June due to a recent decision by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. SHINE (Schools and Homes in Education) and Schuylkill ACHIEVE afterschool parents and teachers have appealed to me for help because for the first time ever, they were denied funding. They may have to close many of the local centers they’ve been operating for decades. Both programs introduce students in grades K-8 to STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) concepts. They have proven records of helping students improve their attendance and academic performance. Closing these centers will not just harm students. It will also wreak havoc on the parents who rely on the centers for childcare. Many will not be able to work. Many legislators, Republicans and Democrats, have joined me in seeking a solution to this problem. I joined Reps. Dane Watro, Doyle Heffley, and Jamie Barton to announce our strong support for the continued funding of these programs at a bipartisan press conference in Hazleton. Should Schools Delay Start Times?
Testifiers discussed the impacts of sleep loss on teenagers and the complexity of scheduling a school day during a public hearing I chaired about pushing back the required start time for schools across Pennsylvania. Experts on the impacts of sleep loss on teenagers urged immediate legislative action to not allow schools to start before 8:30 a.m. Their testimony cited research that teenagers require 8-10 hours of sleep a night and depriving them of that leads to poor academic performance, risk-taking behaviors, mental health issues, chronic physical health issues and higher risks of car accidents. School officials, including representatives from the Pennsylvania Association of School Administrators, the Pennsylvania School Bus Association, and the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association, shared their concerns with the legislation. Supporting Long-Term Care Employees
Too many of our families, including mine, have faced the difficult decision of moving a parent or grandparent into a long-term care center. Unfortunately, the important professionals who make sure they are cared for and respected are facing increasing challenges because of workforce shortages. The Senate Education Committee advanced two bills earlier this month that I introduced to update training procedures and remove employment barriers so more people can pursue this career. Childcare Providers Facing Serious Challenges
Gracias por invitarme a reunirme con ustedes – thank you for inviting me to meet with you! Rep. Watro and I spoke at a press conference sponsored by the Pennsylvania Legislative Latino Caucus and First Up: Champions for Early Education about the serious issues facing childcare providers throughout Pennsylvania. In the three counties I represent, childcare providers worry every day about keeping their doors open. Families are struggling to find childcare. Waiting lists are the norm, not the exception. And many providers are hanging on by a thread to stay open and maintain the number of children they can serve. This doesn’t just hurt our kids; it hurts their parents and their employers. There is only one solution: We must work together – the providers, the business community, the House, the Senate, Republicans and Democrats – to solve this problem. Increasing Penalties for Reporting False Threats at Schools
In the wake of a school shooting tragedy and an uptick in hoax reports, the Senate approved legislation to enhance criminal penalties for false threat reports. Senate Bill 975 now moves to the House of Representatives for consideration. The bill would make knowingly reporting a false threat at schools and higher education institutions a felony of the third degree, resulting in a prison sentence of up to seven years and a fine of up to $15,000. It would also allow courts to sentence anyone convicted to pay the costs of an evacuation or response that resulted from the threat. |
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