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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 15, 2008
CONTACT:
Carol Maravic
(717) 787-6725
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Orie Calls on Gov. Rendell to Halt Wasteful Spending on Controversial Program

Harrisburg – State Sen. Jane Orie (R-40), along with Senate Republican leaders and the Chairman of the Senate Education Committee, today called on Gov. Ed Rendell to cease wasteful spending on a controversial standardized graduation requirements program.

In a letter signed by Senator Orie, Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi (R-9) and Senate Education Committee Chairman James Rhoades (R-29), the senators note that the Pennsylvania Department of Education is proceeding with efforts to implement a standardized graduation competency assessment examination ("GCA") in the Commonwealth.  The action is taking place despite the one-year moratorium excluding any action on the matter that was contained in Act 61 signed into law by the governor on July 9, 2008.

Specifically, the Education Department recently issued a request for proposal and is soliciting bids from companies to develop a model GCA for use in the state.  

"With the express prohibition currently in place, this development considerably alarms us.  Under the economic situation we presently face, the creation of a new state program is plainly imprudent and demonstrates financial irresponsibility," the senators wrote. "Moreover, with the projected revenue shortfall we are and will continue to face during this fiscal year, we feel that costs must be aggressively cut immediately.  While this will require evaluating and adjusting the funding of current programs, it must certainly also include curbing the funding of new initiatives such as the GCA."

The senators concluded: "Consequently, we are respectfully requesting that you direct that any further action by the Department of Education in developing or implementing a GCA cease immediately.  Such leadership would proactively demonstrate a collective willingness to reduce the expected deficit and act responsibly on behalf of all Pennsylvanians."

Letter to Governor Rendell (PDF)