Lycoming News

The burden of state mandates on public schools was thoroughly examined during a public hearing of the Senate Education Committee today. Sen. Dave Argall, who chairs the committee, highlighted the challenges faced by educators and the need for more efficient school operations.

"We ask our educators to do many things on a daily basis – it’s no surprise this leads to overburdened workers and ever-increasing costs," said Argall. "As we continue to consider a better way to fund our public schools, making school operations more efficient must be part of the conversation."

The hearing was called for by Sen. Jarrett Coleman, who introduced Senate Bill 569 to reintroduce a mandate waiver program that was in operation from 2000 to 2010. This program had previously approved over 700 applications, resulting in significant savings for local taxpayers.

During the hearing, representatives from public schools provided testimony on the impact of mandates on their institutions. Dr. Mark Madson, Superintendent of Parkland School District, and Andy Christ, Senior Director of Education Policy at the Pennsylvania School Boards Association, were among those who spoke.

Dr. Madson highlighted the most burdensome requirements faced by schools, focusing on issues such as school construction, advertising, and requests for information under the Right-to-Know law. He emphasized the importance of allocating funding to core educational needs.

Dr. Tina Chekan, CEO and Superintendent of Propel Charter Schools, and Dr. Michael Herrera, Executive Director of Upper Bucks Technical School, also provided testimony on how mandates affect their institutions. They echoed the concerns raised by Dr. Madson and stressed the need to ensure that educational dollars are spent on essential aspects of education.

"Education is the most important item in our entire state budget," Argall reiterated. "We need to ensure that these dollars are being spent on what truly matters – preparing our children for the future."

The discussion surrounding school mandates is a crucial step in addressing the challenges faced by public schools. By examining the impact of these mandates and finding ways to streamline operations, educators and policymakers can work towards a more effective and efficient education system.

Click this link to access more information: https://www.senatorargall.com/2023/11/28/school-mandate-relief-reviewed-by-senate-education-committee/