The committee met to consider three bills and one resolution. SB 441, HB 1944, and HR 565 were unanimously reported as committed. HB 2026 was reported as committed with Minority Chairman Paul Clymer (R-Bucks), Rep. Mike Fleck (R-Huntingdon), Rep. Thomas Quigley (R-Montgomery), Rep. Kathy Rapp (R-Warren), Rep. Mike Reese (R-Westmoreland), and Rep. Todd Rock (R-Franklin) voting in the negative. Check the PLS Capitol Toolbox later today to read the full story.

The committee held a public hearing on HB 1162 and HB 1163. Rep. Chelsa Wagner (D-Allegheny), prime sponsor of HB 1163, said her legislation would require all school districts to provide comprehensive sex education.  Rep. Wagner stated  ”abstinence only education has not been effective” and affirmed that it is the responsibility of the school to provide students with “accurate, science-based information.” Rep. Eddie Pashinksi, prime sponsor of HB 1162, said the bill would require public schools to notify parents that the school is teaching an abstinence only program and provide families an “op-out form.” Several organizations and teachers provided testimony on the topic. Randall Wenger, Chief Counsel for the Pennsylvania Family Institute, said the organization is opposed to both bills and stated “HB 1163 would be harmful and counterproductive to teen physical and emotional health and to preventing teenage pregnancy.” Dr. Rollyn Ornstein, Pediatrician and Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at Penn State College of Medicine, spoke if favor of the bills and stated “abstinence -only programs are not only ineffective but may cause harm by providing inadequate and inaccurate information.” Check the PLS Capitol Toolbox later today for the full story.

The committee held a public hearing on eliminating the education achievement gap in Pennsylvania. Dr. Gerald Zahorchak, Secretary of the Department of Education, shared the results of a three year study by the Center of Education Policy. Secretary Zahorchak said the study found that Pennsylvania is outpacing the nation in achievement gains. “Nearly 80 percent of our public schools met the required academic goals of the federal No Child Left Behind Act,” he said, “The 50 districts where the state invested the most since 2002 showed an average 41 percent increase in the proportion of students performing on grade level in grades 5,  8, and 11.” Dr. Zahorchak emphasized that ”targeted investments” are still needed to closing the gap and affirmed that “the Department of Education’s vision is every child at core academic proficiency in core academic subjects.” Check the PLS Capitol Toolbox later today for the full story.

The committee held an informational hearing on HR 456. Joe Torsella, Chairman of the State Board of Education spoke about the Keystone Exams and discussed the final form regulation that the Independent Regulatory Review Commission will consider on October 22. Torsella emphasized that  only  technical changes were made to the regulation and stressed that the State Board of Education will continue to evaluate the Keystone Exams if implemented so that all stakeholder concerns can be addressed. Check the PLS Capitol Toolbox later today for the full story.

The committee met to consider two bills and one resolution. HB 11 was reported as amended with Rep. Mike Carroll (D-Luzerne) joining the Republicans in the voting in the negative.  SB 736 was reported as committed with Rep. Kathy Rapp (R-Warren) voting in the negative. HR 424 was unanimously reported as amended.