Lawmakers seek perspective from those directly affected by policy decisions
State Sen. Andy Dinniman said the Senate Education Committee wants to hear students’ views on their schools.,
Local students will provide feedback about their experiences in public and nonpublic schools at a hearing this week in Downingtown.
State Sen. Andy Dinniman announced that the Senate Education Committee would meet Thursday from 3 to 5 p.m. at the Downingtown S.T.E.M. Academy located at 335 Manor Ave., Downingtown.
It will mark the first time that the committee has designated a hearing specifically to students’ views, opinions and outlooks on their schools, curriculum and the overall direction of education in the state, a news release from Dinniman said.
Dinniman, who serves as minority chair of the Senate Education Committee, said that he worked with state Sen. Mike Folmer, the majority chair, to organize the hearing as an opportunity to hear from those most affected by their legislative decisions in Harrisburg – the students.
“During meetings and policy discussions, it regularly dawns on my fellow legislators and me that we ought to hear directly from the students on their hopes, expectations and suggestions for improvement,” Dinniman said in the release. “Reports and studies can only tell us so much. This is a chance for the students themselves to speak up and to help paint a clear picture of both the strengths and limitations of our educational system.”
The hearing will include testimony from a diverse group of 10 high school students from public and nonpublic schools in the Coatesville and Downingtown area, including Bishop Shanahan High School, Collegium Charter School, Downingtown High School East, Downingtown High School West, Downingtown S.T.E.M. Academy, Coatesville Area Senior High School, and the Center for Arts and Technology (CAT) Brandywine.
“We expect to hear their views on the role of standardized testing, effective approaches to teacher evaluation, successful teaching methods, school safety, and how funding cuts may have impacted them, as well as areas where money could possibly be saved,” Dinniman said.
Dinniman said that he expected the hearing, which is open to the public, to present a refreshing and candid discussion on education in Pennsylvania from students who represent a broad range of learning experiences. For more information, contact his West Chester office at (610) 692-2112, or e-mail acirucci@pasenate.com.
