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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. James R. Roebuck |
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Roebuck bill to increase student achievement in STEM fields sent to full House
HARRISBURG, June 11 – A bill introduced by state Rep. James Roebuck designed to increase student achievement in the subjects of math and science was reported out of committee this week.
Roebuck's bill (H.B. 2460) would establish a Mathematics, Engineering and Science Achievement program within the Pennsylvania Department of Education. The MESA initiative would work with existing Education Department programs to motivate and encourage students and increase their exposure to science, technology, engineering and math education with the goal of giving more students the ability to compete for these types of jobs in the global market.
"Advances in science and engineering are important to our economic growth," said Roebuck, chairman of the House Education Committee. "The demand for scientists and engineers is expected to increase more dramatically than for other occupations in the coming years, but today's students are not performing well in math and science, and that translates into fewer students pursuing degrees in these fields.
"Although Pennsylvania does have academic standards for math and science education, there currently is nothing in law to address the lack of a qualified job pool in STEM fields. My legislation would establish in the Commonwealth a nationally recognized and proven program for increasing student achievement in math and science education, and ultimately diversify and broaden the job pool in our global economy."
Roebuck's bill also would create a state MESA Commission to oversee the
advancement of STEM education.
MESA has been implemented in eight other states and has been named one of the most innovative public programs in the country by Innovations in American Government, a project of the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University and the Ford Foundation. It also is a winner of the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring.
The bill now goes to the full House for consideration.
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