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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. Dan Surra |
  
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State budget to bring innovative science program to local elementary school
HARRISBURG, July 23 – Pennsylvania's 2008-09 state budget includes funding to expand an innovative program to improve elementary-level science education to an additional 14 schools statewide, including South St. Marys Street Elementary School in St. Marys, according to state Rep. Dan Surra.
"Science: It's Elementary" was originally funded by the General Assembly two years ago. Surra said this year's state budget included $14.5 million to expand the program to include 14 additional schools and 8,242 new students. With the new funding, Science: It's Elementary will now be operating in 143 elementary schools, reaching more than 2,800 teachers and nearly 67,000 Pennsylvania elementary school students.
"This is an approach to science that has proven to be very effective where it has been put in place in previous years," Surra said. "It goes well beyond traditional textbook science learning by giving students at the elementary level the chance to experiment with real hands-on science kits so they can see how science affects them in their everyday lives.
"This kind of science training is normally not available at the elementary level due to cost and other factors," Surra said. "It will help more kids become interested in science, and more importantly, will help all students to improve their comfort with science and their ability to experiment, think critically and understand how the world around them works. It's great to see this program coming to South St. Marys Street Elementary School – it will be a real benefit to students there."
Surra said the Science: It's Elementary program also includes a component that helps teachers in schools where it is introduced improve science teaching methods.
The Science: It's Elementary program is just one of the education components in the state budget designed to begin laying a better foundation for student achievement in Pennsylvania, Surra said. Other successful programs such as Accountability Block Grants, pre-K and full-day kindergarten funding, Classrooms for the Future and Dual Enrollment also continue to receive funding. In addition, the new budget introduces a needs-based school funding formula designed to increase the state's share of basic education funding and reduce the burden on local property tax payers.
Surra said more information about the state's 2008-09 education budget is available at www.pahouse.com.
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