In the near future, I will be reintroducing SR227 –  previously co-sponsored by Senators Costa, Haywood, Fontana, Hughes, Comitta, Cappelletti, Tartaglione, Kearney, and Brewster – which urges the Governor to develop a comprehensive legislative plan to improve basic education in the public schools of our Commonwealth and to establish an advisory commission to study and make specific recommendations for components of such plan.

The advisory commission should be made up of a diverse group of members, including parents, teachers, school administrators, business leaders, higher education representatives, and legislators. This diverse group will ensure that the commission reflects a balanced cross-section of the Commonwealth's citizens. The commission will focus on providing recommendations in the following areas: (1) identifying the most reliable and equitable sources of state and local funding for public education; (2) determining the educational programs and professional educator-to-student ratios needed for student success in the current global economy and how they should be evaluated for impact; (3) exploring solutions for financially distressed school districts; and (4) recommending updates to the Public School Code of 1949, as well as options for shared services and school district consolidation.

I encourage you to join me in co-sponsoring this important resolution to aid our public schools.