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Senate Education Committee Chair Introduces Revised Higher Education Affordability and Accountability Legislation

Senate Education Committee Chairman Jeffrey E. Piccola (R-15) has revised and reintroduced his legislation focusing on higher education accountability and affordability.  Senate Bill 881 would establish necessary tuition controls and accountability measures without placing additional financial burdens on the Commonwealth.

Senator Piccola unveiled "The Affordability and Accountability in Higher Education Act" to respond to the Governor's proposed funding system for higher education which relies on video poker machines to boost aid for students entering one of the 14 state-owned and operated universities and community colleges.  The legislation is an alternative proposal that continues to include tuition controls and accountability measures for Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency grant recipients.  However, the revised bill eliminates the appropriation originally proposed for the PHEAA Grant Program due to the growing revenue shortfall now projected at $3 billion.

To control tuition, Piccola's bill would ensure all Pennsylvania colleges and universities receiving state funding or who have PHEAA students attending their institution would be prohibited from increasing their tuition beyond the Consumer Price Index.  In addition to holding the line on tuition increases, Senate Bill 881 requires all PHEAA grant recipients to maintain at least a "C" average to remain eligible to graduate within four years.  The legislation also would require colleges and universities to offer dual enrollment to students on a space available basis under regulations developed by the State Board of Education.

Senator Piccola said: "In these difficult economic times, we must take steps to show fiscal restraint for our existing programs.  Although it's important to provide assistance for students and families who recognize that higher education is key to economic opportunity, I believe this legislation now sends the taxpayers of this Commonwealth the right message and at the same time gets a handle on the costs of higher education and maintains a level of accountability.”

Senate Education Committee

Education Committee Reports

Senator Pileggi: Legislation Protecting Tax-Exempt Status of Charter Schools Approved by the Senate
Legislation introduced by Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi (R-9) to protect the tax-exempt status of charter schools was approved today by the Senate, 49 to 0.
(full story)

Senator Jane Orie and Representative Matt Smith Push Measures to Help Students with Medical Conditions
State Senator Jane C. Orie (R-40) and Representative Matt Smith (D-42) held a press conference today to promote their legislation that would amend the Pennsylvania School Code by providing additional protections to students who suffer from severe allergies and diabetes and need access to their medications and treatment.
(full story)
- News Conference

Senate Education Committee Moves Orie Measures 
The Pennsylvania Senate Education Committee today unanimously approved two measures introduced by State Senator Jane C. Orie (R-40). 
(full story)

Senate Education Committee Chair Introduces Revised Higher Education Affordability and Accountability Legislation
Senate Education Committee Chairman Jeffrey E. Piccola (R-15) announced he has revised and reintroduced his legislation focusing on higher education accountability and affordability.  Senate Bill 881 would establish necessary tuition controls and accountability measures without placing additional financial burdens on the Commonwealth.
(full story)

Education Committee Chair Calls Education Spending Priorities Necessary to Avoid Future Funding Disasters
Senate Education Committee Chairman Jeffrey E. Piccola (R-15) issued the following statement today on passage of a balanced state budget with realistic education spending priorities.
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Education Chair Reiterates His Call for Reform to Charter Law
Senator Jeffrey E. Piccola (R-15), Chairman of the Education Committee, released the following statement today reacting to the Pennsylvania Department of Education’s (PDE) investigation and lawsuit into the Agora Cyber Charter School’s activities, criticizing the board’s alleged misconduct, and reiterating his call for a rewrite of the state’s Charter School Law.
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Teacher Strikes the Focus of Education Committee’s Public Hearing
Considering that Pennsylvania continues to hold the distinction as the leader in teacher strikes, the Senate Education Committee, chaired by Senator Jeffrey E. Piccola (R-15), convened a public hearing on Wednesday to further profile the issue and hear testimony on the impact walkouts have on the Commonwealth's students, academic achievement and performance, and the public education system.
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Education Committee Chair Comments on Alternative Solution to Keystone Exams
Senator Jeffrey E. Piccola (R-15), Chairman of the Education Committee, released the following statement today reacting to the Pennsylvania State Education Association and various other organizations unveiling of the "Keystone Exams 2.0," an alternative plan to the Keystone Exams, which was proposed by the Pennsylvania Department of Education and the Pennsylvania School Boards Association last month.
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Education Committee Endorses Piccola’s Safe Schools Legislation
Working to make the Commonwealth’s schools a safer haven for learning, the Senate Education Committee, chaired by Senator Jeffrey E. Piccola (R-15) voted out legislation that he has sponsored – Senate Bills 55 and 56 – which would reform Pennsylvania’s Safe Schools Law by enforcing tougher school hiring policies and revising the state’s school violence reporting system.
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Piccola Unveils Legislation Addressing Higher Education Needs for Pennsylvania Families
In an effort to rein in skyrocketing college tuition costs, Senator Jeffrey E. Piccola (R-15), Chairman of the Senate Education Committee, introduced today a legislative package that promises to deliver affordability, accountability, and choice to Pennsylvania students and their families.
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Senate Education Committee Chair Releases Statement on Agreement Reached for Stronger High School Graduation Requirements
Senator Jeffrey E. Piccola (R-15), Chairman of the Education Committee, released the following statement today regarding the agreement reached earlier this week among the Pennsylvania Department of Education, the Pennsylvania School Boards Association, and the state Board of Education to move forward with a revised high school graduation testing requirement while permitting school districts to maintain local authority in this process.
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Sen. Orie Statement on Department of Education Graduation Test
State Senator Jane C. Orie (R-40) issued the following statement in reaction to the Department of Education, State Board of Education, and Pennsylvania School Boards Association agreement on high school graduation testing.
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Op-ed by Senator Jeffrey Piccola - The Keys to Higher Education – Affordability, Accountability, & Choice
While post secondary education is not necessary to lead a successful and happy life, a college degree has become increasingly essential to helping achieve the American Dream.
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Committee Hears Testimony on Orie Bill Halting New State Test
A controversial and costly Administration proposal to mandate Graduate Competence Assessment Tests in Pennsylvania high schools was the focus of testimony yesterday before the Senate Education Committee, according to Sen. Jane Orie (R-Allegheny), who strongly opposes the measure.
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Senate Education Committee hearing on information relevant to: Graduate Competency Assessments (GCAs)
Senator Jane Orie’s legislation imposing a moratorium on GCAs, and Senator Piccola’s proposal to use the existing PSSA process as means to avoid the necessity of a GCA.
- Part 1 - (running time 25 minutes)
- Part 2 - (running time 1 hour 25 minutes)
- Part 3 - (running time 1 hour 20 minutes)
- Part 4 - (running time 1 hour 30 minutes)
- Part 5 - (running time 29 minutes)
- (running time 5 hours 17 minutes)

Senate Education Committee Chair Unveils Higher Education Proposal
In response to the Governor’s recent unveiling of his proposed Tuition Relief Act, Senator Jeffrey E. Piccola (R-15), Chairman of the Senate Education Committee, announced his plans today for the “Affordability, Accountability, and Choice in Higher Education Act.”
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Orie Bill Bars Development of $45 Million State School Test
State Senator Jane C. Orie (R-40) has introduced legislation expressly prohibiting the Department of Education from establishing any new high school graduation requirement without legislative approval.
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Senate Education Committee Chair Comments on Budget Projections & Promises Close Scrutiny During Budget Hearings 
Senator Jeffrey E. Piccola (R-15), Chairman of the Senate Education Committee, issued the following statement today regarding state budget projections and his focus for the scheduled budget hearings in the coming weeks.
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Senate Republicans Urge PSERS to Return Bonuses Awarded to Staff 
Senators Jane Orie (R-Allegheny), John Rafferty (R-Montgomery), and John Eichelberger (R-Blair) are taking issue with the recent decision by the Public School Employees' Retirement System (PSERS) to offer bonuses to their investment staff, at the same time that their employee pension investments were losing significant amounts of money.
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Piccola to Reintroduce Office of Safe School Legislation in
 Response to Auditor General Report
Senator Jeffrey E. Piccola (R-15) announced today his intention to reintroduce Senate Bill 112 of last session, which would resolve several of the issues recently raised by Auditor General Jack Wagner’s special performance audit on the Pennsylvania Department of Education’s Safe School Initiatives.
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Piccola's Statement on Senate Education Committee Appointment
Senator Jeffrey E. Piccola (R-15) issued the following statement today regarding his appointment as Chairman of the Senate Education Committee.
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