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For Immediate
Release
10/15/08
Orie Calls on Gov. Rendell to Halt Wasteful
Spending on Controversial Program
Harrisburg – State Sen. Jane Orie (R-40), along with Senate
Republican leaders and the Chairman of the Senate Education Committee, today
called on Gov. Ed Rendell to cease wasteful spending on a controversial
standardized graduation requirements program.
In a letter signed by Senator Orie, Senate Majority Leader
Dominic Pileggi (R-9) and Senate Education Committee Chairman James Rhoades
(R-29), the senators note that the Pennsylvania Department of Education is
proceeding with efforts to implement a standardized graduation competency
assessment examination (“GCA”) in the Commonwealth. The action is taking place
despite the one-year moratorium excluding any action on the matter that was
contained in Act 61 signed into law by the governor on July 9, 2008.
Specifically, the Education
Department recently issued a request for proposal and is soliciting bids from
companies to develop a model GCA for use in the state.
“With the express prohibition
currently in place, this development considerably alarms us. Under the economic
situation we presently face, the creation of a new state program is plainly
imprudent and demonstrates financial irresponsibility,” the senators wrote.
“Moreover, with the projected revenue shortfall we are and will continue to face
during this fiscal year, we feel that costs must be aggressively cut
immediately. While this will require evaluating and adjusting the funding of
current programs, it must certainly also include curbing the funding of new
initiatives such as the GCA.”
The senators concluded: “Consequently, we are
respectfully requesting that you direct that any further action by the
Department of Education in developing or implementing a GCA cease immediately.
Such leadership would proactively demonstrate a collective willingness to reduce
the expected deficit and act responsibly on behalf of all Pennsylvanians.”
Contact:
Carol Maravic
(717) 787-6725
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