For Immediate Release
May 1, 2007
Contact: David Broderic
717-787-2637
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Senate Education Committee Approves Annual Education Spending Report

HARRISBURG – After the Senate Education Committee today approved legislation requiring the Department of Education to annually provide detailed information on Governor Edward Rendell’s key spending initiatives, committee chairman James J. Rhoades (R-29) said that the committee sent a strong signal that the General Assembly needs clear reports on the programs before legislators appropriate additional state funds.

“Right now, we don’t know for certain where the money is going in these programs or whether they are effective in improving student success,” said committee chairman James J. Rhoades (R-29). “I think it is only prudent that we analyze how these initiatives are working before we appropriate additional funds.”

The bills would require the Department of Education to provide the General Assembly with annual reports on the operation of the educational assistance tutoring program, the classrooms for the future lap-top computer program, the science, its elementary program, the project 720 high school reform initiative, and the E-Fund program.

The committee approved the following bills:
 

According to Rhoades, the Governor has requested a total of $116 million for the classrooms for the future, science, its elementary and project 720 programs in his FY 2007-2008 proposed budget.  He has also requested $66 million for the educational assistance tutoring program.

“The Governor has asked the General Assembly to spend a total of $182 million on these programs next year,” Rhoades said. “Before we take that step, we just need to be certain that these programs work for the schools and students they are designed to serve.

“Government spending, even on programs that appear worthy, needs to be carefully evaluated before increases are approved.  We owe that to the taxpayers.”