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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. Rosita C. Youngblood |
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Bipartisan Group of Legislators Announces Measure to Stop Rendell Administration from Further Movement on Graduation Tests
141 House members support bill opposing current Keystone Exams
HARRISBURG, Sept. 10 – State Rep. Rosita Youngblood, D-Phila, a member of the House Education Committee, and Rep. Paul Clymer, R-Bucks, Republican chairman of the House Education Committee, today announced a joint resolution they have co-sponsored, which would cease any further implementation of the Keystone Exams.
Youngblood said H.R. 456 has overwhelming bipartisan support with 141 House member signatures. The resolution calls on Gov. Ed Rendell and the Independent Regulatory Review Commission (IRRC) to cease any further implementation of and funding for the Keystone Exams, which are 10 high school graduation competency tests that students would have to pass a majority of in order to graduate. The legislation would need to pass the House and Senate with a majority vote.
Last year, the legislature passed H.B. 1067, which enacted a one-year prohibition of the tests. During this prohibition period, the Pennsylvania Department of Education awarded a $201 million contract. The most recent development is a $5.8 million purchase order committed last month to the company, Data Recognition Corporation.
"At this time, our resources must be focused on educating children and improving curriculum," Clymer said. "Ensuring student proficiency, not designing a new testing system, must be the priority. Frankly, Pennsylvania doesn’t have the money to spend $200 million – it’s unfair to the taxpayers."
"The State Department of Education has moved forward with the plan to implement high school graduation tests despite opposition from education advocates, the NAACP and the Pennsylvania General Assembly," Youngblood said. "Moving forward with this plan, which will cost taxpayers upwards of $200 million without proper regulation and input from the legislature, is a disservice to students across the state. By introducing this resolution, we hope to put a halt to these plans and draw attention to the fact that 80 percent of Pennsylvanians are in opposition to these exams."
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