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For Immediate
Release
6/9/09
- SB736
- SB281
Senate Approves Orie Bills to Halt Graduation
Tests; Provide Students with Severe Allergies Access to Medication
The State
Senate today overwhelmingly approved two measures sponsored by Senator Jane C.
Orie (R-40) that would halt a costly new graduation test and ensure that
students with severe allergies have access to life-saving medication.
Senate Bill 281 would prohibit the Department of Education from imposing any
new statewide requirement for high school graduation without legislative
approval.
Senate Bill
736 would allow students with severe allergies to carry epinephrine medication
-- such as EpiPen auto-injectors -- upon approval by the students' physician and
parents.
Orie
introduced Senate Bill 281 to put a halt to a $201 million contract that the
Department of Education signed with an out-of-state company to develop a new
end-of-year testing scheme -- called the Keystone Exams. Under the Department's
original proposal, all students would be required to pass ten subject area tests
in order to graduate.
Orie has been an outspoken critic
of the test, which she says is an unnecessary and duplicative mandate that
erodes local control, won't improve student learning and is extremely costly at
a time when the state simply cannot afford new untested programs.
"At a time when Pennsylvania faces
a $3 billion deficit, we cannot afford to commit funding to an unproven and
unneeded test," said Sen. Orie. "This sends a clear message to the Governor
that we cannot and will not waste $201 million on a controversial and
unnecessary program and that he must work with the legislature to develop
programs and policies that will stand the test of time."
The Senate also approved another
education-related bill that is intended to help students with severe allergies
gain access to medications they need while in school.
Students with severe allergies could carry epinephrine medication with them
in school with the permission of their physicians and parents.
"This
legislation is necessary because allergic reactions can happen at any time -- on
the playground, in class, or in the cafeteria -- and a student with a severe
reaction must have instant access to their medication," said Sen. Orie. "This
bill could help to save lives by providing students access with the medicine
they need, when they need it."
Both bills
now go to the House of Representatives for consideration.
Contact:
Nate Silcox
(717-787-6538)
Additional Information:
Education
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