For Immediate Release
May 1, 2007
Contact: Joe Sterns
717-787-5708
(Cell) 717-497-0806
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AUDIO

Senate Education Committee Approves Citizen Mike's Bill Bringing More Accountability to Department of Education

HARRISBURG – The State Senate Education Committee today unanimously approved legislation sponsored by Sen. Mike "Citizen Mike" Folmer (R-Lebanon) that would increase accountability in the Department of Education.

Specifically, Senate Bill 805 requires the Department to annually submit a report on the operation of the education assistance program to: the majority and minority chairmen of the House and Senate Appropriations and Education committees. The legislation further requires the report to be posted on the Department's web site.

Folmer's legislation requires the report to include:

• A listing of approved education assistance providers
• A listing of each eligible school that has entered into a contract with the provider
• The number of students for whom tutoring services were provided, by grade level
• The assessment of academic progress conducted by the Department

"I believe that in order for our children to receive the best education possible, and to make sure taxpayers are getting the best possible return on their investment into our children's future, we have to have as much accountability as we can in the Department of Education," Folmer said.

Senate Bill 805 will now go before the full Senate for consideration.