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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. Josh Shapiro |
  
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Shapiro announces elimination of the 'Tuition Tax'
Unveils new Web site for Pa. students to help transfer academic credits
HARRISBURG, May 13 – State Rep. Josh Shapiro, D-Montgomery, joined Deputy Secretary Kate Shaw from the state Department of Education’s Office of Postsecondary and Higher Education for the launch of the Pennsylvania Statewide Credit Transfer System and PA TRAC Web site.
Shapiro spearheaded the efforts in the House to create a statewide credit transfer system. His proposal, which was enacted into law in 2006, required the state’s 14 community colleges and 14 State System of Higher Education Colleges to adopt mandatory equivalency standards for core curriculum courses. A minimum of 30 credit hours must be easily transferrable to any of the participating institutions.
Lackawanna College, Lincoln University, Seton Hill University and St. Francis University, which were not required to participate in the credit transfer agreements, have voluntarily joined the system, bringing the number of institutions participating in the credit transfer framework to 32.
"Prior to this legislation, college credits were not guaranteed to be 100 percent transferable," Shapiro said. "That means students wishing to transfer from one school to another could be forced to retake classes and pay more money. I call that a ‘tuition tax' and it’s unfair. I am proud that today we are making it easier for students to complete college on time and for less money."
Today’s announcement was the inaugural event of the new credit transfer system and unveiled the new PA TRAC Web site. The Web site (http://www.patrac.org/) will allow students to easily find which credit hours can transfer to another college.
"The creation of the credit transfer system is only a preliminary step in improving credit-sharing agreements among institutions of higher education in Pennsylvania," Shapiro said. "I encourage more institutions to join the transfer system so that we can completely eliminate the tuition tax for all students in Pennsylvania. Establishing these minimum requirements will raise academic standards across the state."
Shapiro is deputy speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and represents the 153rd Legislative District in Montgomery County. More information about Shapiro is available at www.pahouse.com/Shapiro.
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