House Education Committee addressing real needs of students and their families, not culture wars

(Oct 30, 2023)

I thoroughly enjoyed reading in high school. I related to Holden Caufield’s teenage disillusionment in the Catcher in the Rye . My early political views were shaped in large part through novels like Animal Farm and The Lord of the Flies ; and my healthy cynicism, and randomly, the embrace of my Irish heritage began when I read A Modest Proposal . My senior year English teacher, Ms. Barbara Psathas , knew that I gained much through reading (she taught me as a sophomore as well) and gave me an assignment to write a report on another important piece of American literature. This time, I wasn’t going to read about someone like me, but rather about a little black girl growing up post Great Depression. Toni Morrison’s seminal work, The Bluest Eye , is not something I would have picked up at the Allentown Public Library or at my local Waldenbooks (yes, I am willfully dating myself with that reference). But being exposed to something that was so far outside of my comfort zone helped me developed a sense of empathy and humanity. This was 1996 – nearly thirty years ago while attending a conservative, mostly white religious high school (Allentown Central Catholic High School), in a blue-collar town (Allentown, PA). If I attended high school today, the odds are that I Read more

 

School Transportation & Bus Driver Shortage Testimony

(Oct 30, 2023)

On Monday, Oct. 30, the House Education Committee held an informational meeting to discuss the impacts of school bus driver shortages and other transportation issues affecting school districts. Read more

 

Testifiers detail importance of dual enrollment & college affordability programs in Pennsylvania

(Oct 20, 2023)

SHIPPENSBURG, Oct. 19 – The PA House Education Committee convened an informational meeting Thursday morning to highlight the impacts of dual enrollment programs and ensuring college affordability for Pennsylvania students. “As a first generation college student, I know how having affordable college costs was essential for my path to success,” said state Rep. Peter Schweyer, Majority Chairman of the PA House Education Committee. “By keeping tuition and costs low for families and by encouraging educational programs like dual enrollment, we can help students achieve their academic goals and have the same opportunities for success I had.” The meeting, hosted at Shippensburg University, featured testimony regarding the benefits for students who participated in dual enrollment programs from Dr. Ann Bieber, President of Lehigh Carbon Community College. “The educational benefit of dual enrollment begins in high school, as students enrolled in dual enrollment programs are more likely to graduate high school,” said Bieber. “The rigor of the coursework provided by community colleges in turn improves college readiness, which results in higher postsecondary completion rates for dual enrollment program students as compared to their peers.” The hearing also featured testimony on ongoing efforts to make college more affordable for Pennsylvania students and families from Dr. Kara Lakowski, Chair of the Department of Communication Read more

 

Dual Enrollment & College Affordability Informational Meeting Testimony

(Oct 19, 2023)

The House Education Committee held an informational meeting at Shippesnburg University to discuss dual enrollment programs and college affordability. Read more

 

Educators, students, and parents turn out to improve lives

(Oct 18, 2023)

Pa. House Representative Peter Schweyer addressed the crowd speaking about his support for Career Technical Education schools. He also spoke about his support for legislation to improve facilities and remove cost barriers to teacher certification. Read more

 

Dental Screenings for Students Informational Meeting Testimony

(Oct 17, 2023)

The PA House Education Committee held an informational meeting and voting meeting to provide school districts with better opportunities to provide dental screenings for students. Read more

 

Schweyer’s office to hold monthly veterans outreach Oct. 20

(Oct 06, 2023)

ALLENTOWN, Oct. 6 – State Rep. Peter Schweyer, D-Lehigh, is alerting local veterans that his monthly support program will be held on Friday, Oct. 20 at his district office in Allentown. A representative from the American Legion will be available for appointments at Schweyer’s district office, 1501 Lehigh St., Suite 206. Appointments are available from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The service officer will be available to assist veterans and their families with benefits and services available to them. The representative also will be available to discuss pensions and other compensation, as well as education, health care and death benefits. Legion membership is not required; however, anyone interested in speaking with the adviser should schedule appointments by contacting Schweyer’s office at 610-791-6270. Read more

 

Education equity still dividing policymakers

(Sep 29, 2023)

Rep. Peter Schweyer, D-Allentown, said the new formula must recognize “the fundamental understanding that all kids are not exactly the same.” Read more

 

Kutztown University Hosts Informative Legislative Breakfast to Strengthen Higher Education

(Sep 27, 2023)

“We need to ensure that the next generation of students have opportunities to advance themselves,” said Schweyer. “They could achieve great things if we just invest in them.” Read more

 

Pa. House Democrats renew call for end to blockade on state-related university aid

(Sep 26, 2023)

House Education Committee Chairman Peter Schweyer, (D-Lehigh), told the Capital-Star that he would be open to discussing with Republicans some of their genuine and long held concerns about making the universities more accountable through performance-based budgeting and requiring them to disclose certain metrics. Read more

 

Lawmakers look for answers to fix Pennsylvania’s unconstitutional school funding system

(Sep 17, 2023)

“What we learned was, what – candidly – advocates like me have been saying for a long time, is that we have been short-changing our families, we’ve been short-changing our kids,” Rep. Schweyer said. Read more

 

"Do more with less": Why PA school districts continue to struggle with funding despite unfair ruling

(Sep 15, 2023)

"What we've done over the years is immoral, ineffective and unconstitutional," Rep. Peter Schweyer, chair of the Pennsylvania House Education Committee, said. "We have the chance to start turning that ship around." Read more

 

Lawmakers grapple with fixing Pa.’s unconstitutional school funding system

(Sep 14, 2023)

“Before we continue down this conversation of ‘historic funding, historic funding, historic funding’ let’s look at history just a little bit closer and understand we’re playing catch-up on a decade-plus, if not longer, of education cuts,” Rep. Schweyer said Read more

 

Schweyer: Let's Make Things Right for Funding Education

(Sep 13, 2023)

Pa. House Education Committee Chairman Rep. Peter Schweyer joined colleagues from both the state House and Senate to hear testimony from education advocates and experts in the first of a series of Basic Education Funding Commission (BEFC) hearings. The BEFC conducts these hearings every 5 years to hear the needs of our schools and what they can do to improve our education system. Read more

 

Testifiers emphasize school repairs, upgrades to provide safe, quality education for students

(Sep 13, 2023)

ALLENTOWN, Sept. 12 – Testifiers detailed the critical importance of adequate funding for school districts to address building repairs, upgrades and maintenance to keep students and faculty safe during a Basic Education Funding Commission hearing today. “Mother Nature helped prove the need is right now for school building funding with the oppressive heat wave last week,” said Schweyer, Majority Chairman of the PA House Education Committee (D-Lehigh). “Many school districts across PA closed or adjusted to virtual learning during the extreme heat because there was no air conditioning or means to protect students and staff from the excessive temperatures. Our children have waited long enough and should not have to continue to learn in substandard conditions.” The hearing was hosted by Schweyer and state Sen. Nick Miller at the Allentown School District Administration Building and included testimony from the superintendents of the Allentown, Bethlehem and Salisbury school districts as well as other education advocates to discuss the impacts of classroom environments on students’ abilities to learn. "I am glad the BEFC began the hearings right here in Allentown. As a former school board member, education has long been a passion of mine. My district includes 10 school districts, ranging from rural to suburban to urban, across the Lehigh Valley, all with unique needs we are addressing,” said Miller, D-Lehigh. “Listening to Read more

 

At Allentown hearing, Lehigh Valley superintendents say local schools facing dire straits. $6.2 billion might be needed to fix problem across Pa.

(Sep 12, 2023)

“I actually think the basic education formula needs to include a consideration for the age and deficiencies of buildings,” Schweyer said. “School districts that have old, beat-up buildings should get additional funding in the basic education formula.” Read more

 

Lehigh Valley school officials, education advocates ask for funding fairness in legislative hearing

(Sep 12, 2023)

State House Education Committee Chairman Rep. Peter Schweyer, D-Lehigh, pointed to Parkland School District’s wealthier tax base, which includes warehouses and Dorney Park. He said the district is also the fourth-largest district statewide. Read more

 

Lehigh Valley's poorest students wait for funding as lawmakers continue fight over school vouchers

(Sep 12, 2023)

House Education Committee Chair Peter Schweyer, D-Lehigh, said the fiscal code, which directs how money in the budget is spent, showed the Senate was playing politics instead of negotiating in good faith. Read more

 

Schweyer Set to Tour PA to Address School Funding

(Sep 11, 2023)

Pa. state Rep. Peter Schweyer, Chairman of the House Education Committee, joined House Appropriations Committee Chairman Jordan Harris to announce a statewide tour to discuss and find solutions to adequately fund public education across the commonwealth. Schweyer says the disproportionate funding over the years is immoral, ineffective and unconstitutional and must finally be addressed. Read more

 

Work begins on finding a Pa. school funding formula that passes constitutional muster

(Sep 11, 2023)

Rep. Schweyer, who is also a member of the funding commission, said he sees their hearings as adding “more datapoints and more expert testimony to what the Basic Education Funding Commission is doing to add to what the court case said.” Read more

 

House Education Committee addressing real needs of students and their families, not culture wars
Oct 30, 2023

School Transportation & Bus Driver Shortage Testimony
Oct 30, 2023

Testifiers detail importance of dual enrollment & college affordability programs in Pennsylvania
Oct 20, 2023

Dual Enrollment & College Affordability Informational Meeting Testimony
Oct 19, 2023

Educators, students, and parents turn out to improve lives
Oct 18, 2023

Dental Screenings for Students Informational Meeting Testimony
Oct 17, 2023

Schweyer’s office to hold monthly veterans outreach Oct. 20
Oct 06, 2023

Education equity still dividing policymakers
Sep 29, 2023

Kutztown University Hosts Informative Legislative Breakfast to Strengthen Higher Education
Sep 27, 2023

Pa. House Democrats renew call for end to blockade on state-related university aid
Sep 26, 2023

Lawmakers look for answers to fix Pennsylvania’s unconstitutional school funding system
Sep 17, 2023

"Do more with less": Why PA school districts continue to struggle with funding despite unfair ruling
Sep 15, 2023

Lawmakers grapple with fixing Pa.’s unconstitutional school funding system
Sep 14, 2023

Schweyer: Let's Make Things Right for Funding Education
Sep 13, 2023

Testifiers emphasize school repairs, upgrades to provide safe, quality education for students
Sep 13, 2023

At Allentown hearing, Lehigh Valley superintendents say local schools facing dire straits. $6.2 billion might be needed to fix problem across Pa.
Sep 12, 2023

Lehigh Valley school officials, education advocates ask for funding fairness in legislative hearing
Sep 12, 2023

Lehigh Valley's poorest students wait for funding as lawmakers continue fight over school vouchers
Sep 12, 2023

Schweyer Set to Tour PA to Address School Funding
Sep 11, 2023

Work begins on finding a Pa. school funding formula that passes constitutional muster
Sep 11, 2023