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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 27, 2009
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Orie and Saylor Announce Discharge Resolution for Keystone Exam Legislation

HARRISBURG – Senate Majority Whip Jane C. Orie (R-40) and House Republican Policy Chairman Stan Saylor (R-94) at a press conference today announced that there will be a discharge resolution filed for their legislation, which halts the movement of the Keystone Exams.

Senate Bill 281 and House Bill 970 have been stuck in the House Education Committee for months. The legislation requires the General Assembly's approval for any funding of exit exams and for any changes to high school graduation requirements. The discharge resolution would force the bills out of committee.

"Put simply, at a time when the Commonwealth faces a $3.2 billion deficit, there is NO justification for spending state dollars on a new program, particularly when many proven programs are being cut and/or eliminated," said Orie. "It makes no sense."

"It is inexcusable that the Rendell administration continues to spend money on these tests when our state has a $3.25 billion deficit and there is little to no support for them," said Saylor. "The fact that the Education Secretary and Chairman Torsella held a press conference announcing that there is an agreement among the four caucuses is simply not true."

Some of the concerns over the exams and the so-called compromise include:

• Cost; the compromise claims to reduce the cost, yet in reality it will still cost millions and the contract awarded by the department is still effective;

• Voluntary usage claim; the exams are "voluntary", but will replace the federally mandated PSSA and school districts will be required to administer four of the 10 exams;
• Test-prep time; prep-time will increase and will only decrease if midterms and finals are eliminated;
• High-stakes; these exams account for 33% of a student's final grade.

"This needs to be about what is best for our students...not about spending millions on another test that we do not need, schools are against, and may get replaced by national standards," said Saylor. "This needs to be stopped and cannot be a part of next year's budget. The Rendell Administration does not need to raise taxes in order to fund this."

A discharge resolution requires 25 member signatures and a majority vote on the House Floor.

Additional Information:

• Speaking Order
• Keystone Exams Conference - Poster 1
• Keystone Exams Conference - Poster 2
• Keystone Exams Conference - Poster 3
• The Daily Quotes
• The Torsella "Compromise"
• Policy Brief - Rand Education
• LDAP Statement
• NAACP Statement
• PACTA Statement
• PAESSP Statement
• PASA Statement
• PASCD Statement
• PSBA Resolution
• Tenn Student's Latest Education Victory Is Personal

Contact:

Nathan Silcox (Senator Orie)
(717) 787-6538

Contact:  Holly Lubart (Representative Saylor)
(717) 260-6217