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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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CONTACT: Jay Purdy |
State Rep. Rick Taylor |
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House committee advances Taylor education bill
HARRISBURG, April 25 – The state House Education Committee today voted to send to the full House a bill sponsored by Rep. Rick Taylor, D-Montgomery, that would increase funds to help high school students pay for enrollment in college-level courses while still in high school.
Taylor introduced the measure (H.B. 932) on behalf of Gov. Ed Rendell as part of his proposed 2007-08 budget education incentives package.
The Dual Enrollment Program is available to secondary students in public, charter, nonpublic and private schools, as well those in home education.
The Taylor bill would increase the state allocation by $2 million over the current $8 appropriation, with the increase targeted to high schools to enroll low-income students in college-level courses.
“Helping these students to take college-level courses while still in high school certainly improves their chances for getting into the college they most want to attend and eases their tuition load by giving them a head start on earning credit hours,” Taylor said.
“Encouraging students from low-income families to pursue more advanced academics is a cost-effective means of providing students with the tools to gain a well-paying job and be a highly productive citizen of our community.”
Taylor can be contacted through his Web site: www.pahouse.com/taylor.
The 151st Legislative District includes parts of Horsham, Abington, Upper Dublin, Montgomery and Lower Gwynedd townships; and Ambler Borough.
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