The state Senate approved a realistic 2023-24 budget for Pennsylvania that holds the line on taxes, promotes job growth, continues historic support for schools and sets aside money to prevent future tax hikes, said Senate President Pro Tempore Kim Ward (R-39), Senate Majority Leader Joe Pittman (R-41) and Senate Appropriations Chair Scott Martin (R-13). [Read More]
As Pennsylvania lawmakers and Gov. Josh Shapiro enter the final days of state budget negotiations, education funding is high on the list of issues. A transformative new program, Lifeline Scholarships, is reportedly part of those debates. The Lifeline program would fund private school scholarships for children who are assigned to the lowest-performing 15% of public schools in the state. Stories from the parents and students who really understand the scholarships’ potential impact should be front and center for lawmakers. [Read More]
State budget negotiations are full of false dichotomies. We are forced to choose loyalties between public, charter, or private schools. But is that really our only choice? While policymakers debate whether to spend more or less on education, perhaps we might ask, “How can we spend differently?” [Read More]
Superintendent Tony B. Watlington Sr. is right: For students within the Philadelphia School District, attendance is a life-and-death issue, particularly for students of color in some of the state’s lowest-performing schools. [Read More]
Educational Opportunity Accounts would make it much easier for students to get the schooling they need, regardless of where they live. [Read More]
Christopher is a seventh grader doing well in school and has self-confidence his mom, Kristen, was afraid she’d never see in her son again. [Read More]
Monday, May 1, 2023 | 12:45 p.m. | Capitol Rotunda [Read More]
Senate President Pro Tempore Kim Ward (R-39) along with Senate Republican colleagues Sens. John DiSanto (R-15), Tracy Pennycuick (R-24), and Devlin Robinson (R-37) offered their support for Senate Bill 8 as it advanced out of the House Insurance Committee earlier today. [Read More]
As a result of legislation sponsored by Sen. Ryan Aument (R-36) to redesign the state’s education system, Senate President Pro Tempore Kim Ward (R-39) appointed Sens. Aument, Rosemary Brown (R-40), David Argall (R-29) and Devlin Robinson (R-37) to serve on the Pennsylvania Commission on Education & Economic Competitiveness. [Read More]
Senate President Pro Tempore Kim Ward (R-39), Senate Majority Leader Joe Pittman (R-41), Senate Majority Appropriations Chair Scott Martin (R-13), Senate Majority Whip Ryan Aument (R-36), Senate Majority Caucus Chair Kristin Phillips-Hill (R-28), Senate Majority Caucus Secretary Camera Bartolotta (R-46), Senate Majority Policy Chair Dan Laughlin (R-49) and Senate Majority Caucus Administrator Lisa Baker (R-20), today issued the following statement on workplace harassment: [Read More]
