Impact of COVID-19 on Communities of Color

(Mar 04, 2021)

The Impact of COVID-19 on Communities of Color Read more

 

Virtual Hearing: Impact of COVID-19 on Communities of Color

(Mar 04, 2021)

A hearing in collaboration with the PLBC to discuss the impact of COVID-19 on communities of color. Read more

 

Pisciottano chairs roundtable discussion on improving mental health for high school students

(Mar 03, 2021)

HARRISBURG, March 3 – State Rep. Nick Pisciottano, D-Allegheny, brought together school professionals, mental health advocates, human services professionals and legislators for a discussion on how resources can be allocated to better serve Pennsylvania students, during a PA House Democratic Policy Committee hearing today. Strengthening teachers and support staff was a natural part of the discussion that highlighted how the pandemic has exacerbated existing systemic issues with providing services to students, teachers and staff. “Our high school students have had to overcome so many challenges during the pandemic, including virtual schooling, a lack of real social interaction and constant disruptions to daily life during the most turbulent periods of growing up. It’s imperative we do all we can to support their mental health needs as they mature into young adults,” Pisciottano said. “This policy hearing was very helpful in hearing from a variety of experts on how state and local officials can best help students and work with our schools to give them the tools they need moving forward.” Michael Fiore, school social worker/home and school visitor for Council Rock School District, and Dr. Mike Ghilani, superintendent of West Jefferson Hills School District, shared the struggles students face and their efforts to make swift changes to policies and procedures that have had lifesaving impacts on students. Ghilani shared a tragic case Read more

 

Mental Health in High Schools - Testimony

(Mar 03, 2021)

Testimony from 3/3/21 House Democratic Policy Committee hearing on Mental Health in High Schools hosted by state Rep. Nick Pisciottano Read more

 

Pisciottano chairs roundtable discussion on improving mental health for high school students

(Mar 03, 2021)

HARRISBURG, March 3 – State Rep. Nick Pisciottano, D-Allegheny, brought together school professionals, mental health advocates, human services professionals and legislators for a discussion on how resources can be allocated to better serve Pennsylvania students, during a PA House Democratic Policy Committee hearing today. Read more

 

Mental Health in Schools

(Mar 03, 2021)

Mental Health in High Schools Read more

 

Mental health of students the focus of Wednesday’s virtual House Democratic Policy Committee hearing

(Mar 02, 2021)

HARRISBURG, March 2 – State House Rep. Nick Pisciottano, D-Allegheny, will host a virtual hearing to discuss the mental health of students during the current pandemic. The hearing will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, March 3. To view, the media and public can tune in to www.pahouse.com/policycommittee or the committee’s Facebook page -- @PADemPolicy. Media inquiries may be submitted via email to policy@pahouse.net . Pisciottano will be joined by committee Chairman Ryan Bizzarro and Democratic Policy Committee members to focus on the mental health of our high school students, notably during the current pandemic. This meeting is part of a weekly series focused on education, ensuring a quality education for all Pennsylvania children. Read more

 

Reforms needed to address Charter Crisis

(Mar 02, 2021)

HARRISBURG, March 2 – The charter school crisis has only worsened through the COVID-19 pandemic and a public hearing hosted by state Rep. Mary Isaacson examined the statewide impact on public schools. "Our Pennsylvania Constitution requires that we provide for and maintain a thorough and efficient public education system," said Isaacson, D-Phila. "That constitutional mandate doesn't disappear when there's a global pandemic. COVID-19 has had a huge impact on school districts' budgets throughout our commonwealth, presenting new challenges to meet the constitutional mandate. Being able to have a discussion now with administrators on the front lines of dealing with the impact of COVID-19 and the charter school funding crisis was an important step in working toward solutions." The committee heard testimony from Uri Monson, CFO for the Philadelphia School District, and superintendents statewide including Dr. Shane Hotchkiss, Bermudian Springs School District and chair, Pennsylvania Association of School Administrators Legislative Committee; Ken Berlin, Wattsburg School District, Erie County; Richard Scaletta, General Mclane School District, Erie County; Dr. Brian Bliss, Solanco School District, Lancaster County; David Burkett, Fannett Metal School District, Franklin County; and Jim Estep, Mifflin County School District. “Testifiers were economically and geographically diverse, yet they could agree that the current approach Read more

 

House Democratic Policy Committee: funding and consistency would improve student outcomes

(Mar 02, 2021)

HARRISBURG, March 2 -- State Reps. Liz Fiedler and Rick Krajewski hosted a House Democratic Policy Committee hearing Monday to highlight how an education budget focused on the people could best impact Pennsylvania students, especially the neediest populations. The committee heard testimony from a panel of pre-k advocates, including Shalonda Spencer, director of Public Policy and Government Affairs, Trying Together; Damaris Alvarado-Rodriguez, CEO of Children's Playhouse Early Learning Center; and De’Wayne Drummond, president, Mantua Civic Association Parent Engagement Specialist, Head Start at Philadelphia School District. The panel shared concerns regarding workforce retention, low pay and the need for additional funding so they can increase pay for workers. The panel also described the devastating mental and emotional toll COVID-19 has taken on them, and on childcare center workers and families. They called for renewed investment in the care and education of Pennsylvania’s youngest residents. “I am deeply invested in the equitable education of Pennsylvania’s children from birth on up. As a mother, it’s personal for me and as a legislator, it’s my mission to ensure our children have access to high-quality care and education,” Fiedler explained. “We must draw a line and refuse to let some children be viewed as less valuable than others by the General Assembly. That starts by valuing the labor of the Read more

 

The COVID/Charter Crisis - Testimony

(Mar 02, 2021)

The COVID/Charter Crisis - Testimony Read more

 

The COVID/Charter Crisis

(Mar 02, 2021)

The COVID/Charter Crisis Read more

 

COVID/Charter Crisis focus of Tuesday’s virtual House Democratic Policy Committee hearing

(Mar 01, 2021)

HARRISBURG, March 1 -- House Democratic Policy Committee Vice Chair Mary Isaacson, D-Philadelphia, will host a virtual hearing to discuss the charter school crisis exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The hearing will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, March 2 . To view, the media and public can tune in to www.pahouse.com/policycommittee or the committee’s Facebook page -- @PADemPolicy. Media inquiries may be submitted via email to policy@pahouse.net . Isaacson will be joined by committee Chairman Ryan Bizzarro and Democratic Policy Committee members to examine the impact charter school enrollment during the COVID-19 pandemic has had on public school budgets. The meeting is one in a series collecting information that will help Pennsylvania better recover from COVID-19 and improve access to quality education. Read more

 

People's Education Budget - Testimony

(Mar 01, 2021)

Testimony from a hearing on the People's Education Budget, hosted by Rep. Elizabeth Fiedler and Rep. Rick Krajewski. Read more

 

A People's Budget: Education

(Mar 01, 2021)

Subcommittee on Progressive Policies for Working People - Education Budget Read more

 

Fiedler, Krajewski to host hearing focused on Pa.’s education budget

(Feb 26, 2021)

HARRISBURG, Feb. 26 -- State Reps. Elizabeth Fiedler and Rick Krajewski, both D-Phila., will host Monday’s House Democratic Policy Committee meeting on the state’s early childhood and k-12 education budget. The hearing will be held at 3 p.m. March 1. The public and media may tune in at www.pahouse.com/policy or the committee’s Facebook page --@PADemPolicy. Media inquiries may be submitted to policy@pahouse.net . Policy Committee Chairman Ryan Bizzarro will join Fiedler, Krajewski and House Democratic colleagues for a look at how the education budget should take a fair and equitable approach that provides quality educational opportunities regardless of zip code. This hearing is part of the People’s Budget project which includes public hearings on environmental policy, education and infrastructure. The committee hopes to generate legislative policy that upholds Pennsylvania’s constitutional obligation to provide for the maintenance and support of a thorough and efficient system of public education to serve the needs of the commonwealth. Read more

 

A People's Budget: Education

(Feb 25, 2021)

Subcommittee on Progressive Policies for Working People - Education Budget Read more

 

Environment Budget (s) - Testimony

(Feb 25, 2021)

Testimony - Joint House and Senate House Democratic Policy Committee - Environment Budget Read more

 

A People’s Budget: The Environment

(Feb 25, 2021)

State Rep. Elizabeth Fiedler hosted a virtual public hearing to discuss a progressive environment budget under the House Democratic Policy Committee's Subcommittee on Progressive Policies for Working People. Media inquiries may be submitted via email to policy@pahouse.net Read more

 

Powering PA: 21st Century Energy Jobs - Testimony

(Feb 24, 2021)

Powering PA: 21st Century Jobs - Testimony Read more

 

Powering PA - 21st Century Energy Jobs

(Feb 24, 2021)

At the request of state Rep. Pam Snyder, the House Democratic Policy Committee will host a virtual public hearing to discuss Powering PA: 21st Century Energy Jobs. The hearing will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 24. The public and media can tune into the hearing online at www.pahouse.com/policy or www.facebook.com/padempolicy. Media inquiries may be submitted via email to policy@pahouse.net Read more