Board hears legislative update: HB 130 proposed amendment and governor’s budget highlights

A board representative gave the Great Valley School Board an overview of the current state legislative session and administrative rule changes affecting schools.

The representative said the House education committee was recomposed and noted two Chester County representatives on the committee. They described an Independent Regulatory Review Commission action approving a final State Board of Education regulation that updates the Pennsylvania school code for academic standards, including career education, family and consumer sciences, economics and standalone personal finance standards. The update also shifts the grade level for the elementary-level science assessment and requires school entities to post strategic plans on publicly accessible websites.

The board briefing included a discussion of HB 130, described as a bill proposing a constitutional amendment that would let funding follow students to the school of their choice. The presenter said that because the measure would be a constitutional amendment it must pass in two consecutive legislative sessions to take effect.

The presenter also summarized governor Shapiro’s proposed budget, noting a proposed $75 million increase in basic education funding, $526 million allocated through the Bipartisan Adequacy Formula toward underfunded schools, a proposed $40 million increase for special education, and proposed cyber charter reform that would cap cyber tuition at $8,000 per student per year. The presenter emphasized these are proposals in the governor’s budget and must still clear the legislative process.

Board members were reminded of the IU’s annual legislative breakfast in April and that one student representative from each board will be invited this year to attend and participate.