Bill Text: PA HB867 | 2011-2012 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Establishing the MESA Initiative; providing for duties of the State Board of Education; and establishing the State MESA Commission.

Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 35-7)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2011-03-01 - Referred to EDUCATION [HB867 Detail]

Download: Pennsylvania-2011-HB867-Introduced.html

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PRINTER'S NO. 905
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 867 Session of2011
INTRODUCED BY ROEBUCK, SHAPIRO, SANTARSIERO, CLYMER, BISHOP, CALTAGIRONE, CARROLL, COHEN, D. COSTA, DALEY, FABRIZIO, FLECK, FREEMAN, GIBBONS, GODSHALL, GOODMAN, HALUSKA, HORNAMAN, JOHNSON, JOSEPHS, KAVULICH, KIRKLAND, KORTZ, KOTIK, KULA, LONGIETTI, MARSHALL, McGEEHAN, MILNE, M. O'BRIEN, O'NEILL, PASHINSKI, PAYTON, READSHAW, SANTONI, STURLA, WAGNER AND WHEATLEY, MARCH 1, 2011
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, MARCH 1, 2011
AN ACT
Establishing the MESA Initiative; providing for duties of the
State Board of Education; and establishing the State MESA
Commission.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Short title.
This act shall be known and may be cited as the Pennsylvania
MESA Initiative Act.
Section 2. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Board." The State Board of Education of the Commonwealth.
"Commission." The State MESA Commission established under
section 5.
"MESA." Mathematics, engineering and science achievement.
"MESA Initiative." The program established under section 3
to promote science, engineering and mathematics education.
"STEM." Science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
Section 3. MESA Initiative.
The MESA Initiative is hereby established as a program that
shall seek to increase exposure, educational motivation and
achievement of students in mathematics, engineering and science
and build individual and regional capacity to compete for STEM-
based jobs in the global market with a particular emphasis on
students, parents, educators and employers from urban and rural
groups who have historically had the lowest levels of high
school diploma attainment and participation in college and
graduate education.
Section 4. Administration of MESA Initiative.
(a) Designation of administrative agency.--The board shall
administer the MESA Initiative, including Statewide MESA
funding, operations, regional groups, programs and evaluations,
with particular emphasis on goals related to diversity and
inclusion of underrepresented and economically disadvantaged
groups in all operational and programmatic activities.
(b) Coordination.--The board shall coordinate the efforts of
the Commonwealth agencies that relate to MESA education from the
kindergarten level through the graduate level to avoid
unnecessary duplication of initiatives and ensure adherence to
established guidelines.
(c) Structure of MESA regions.--The board shall work with
the regional higher education institutions, the Pennsylvania
Urban STEM Strategy Group and no fewer than five established
MESA regions in this Commonwealth to build on existing STEM-
based infrastructure to support not fewer than four professional
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staff, 20 retired industry mentor volunteers, 20 certified MESA
teacher-coordinators and 20 MESA-trained school administrators
in each MESA region.
(d) Duties.--The board shall have the following duties:
(1) In conjunction with the Pennsylvania Urban STEM
Strategy Group, developing annual goals and objectives for
implementing and ensuring fidelity of MESA programs
throughout this Commonwealth with particular emphasis on
regional economic and educational needs.
(2) No later than 30 days after developing the goals and
objectives under paragraph (1):
(i) Disseminating the goals and objectives to the
State MESA Commission and the MESA regions.
(ii) Communicating the goals and objectives to all
relevant agencies of the Commonwealth and collaborative
regional entities.
(iii) Making the goals and objectives available to
the general public, particularly to stakeholders.
(3) Coordinating and facilitating communication and
cooperation among all MESA regions and assuring compliance
with established guidelines for the MESA Initiative.
(4) Conducting an ongoing inventory and assessment of
the effectiveness and coherence of efforts within the MESA
regions.
(5) Annually evaluating the progress and success of the
MESA regions in achieving the goals and objectives under
paragraph (1).
(6) Consulting with the Commonwealth agencies when
developing policies and initiatives related to MESA.
(7) Strengthening partnerships between the national MESA
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community, Federal, State and local governments and relevant
international partners.
(8) Conducting an annual meeting on the status of the
MESA Initiative, in conjunction with:
(i) Relevant State agencies.
(ii) The State MESA Commission, as hosting entity.
(iii) Other state MESA Initiatives.
(iv) Regional businesses and industries.
(v) The State System of Higher Education.
(vi) Education professionals from the kindergarten
through graduate levels.
(vii) Existing regional STEM groups.
(viii) Other relevant stakeholders.
Section 5. State MESA Commission.
(a) Establishment.--There is hereby established a State MESA
Commission to oversee the advancement of mathematics,
engineering, science and technology education.
(b) Membership.--The commission shall consist of no fewer
than 20 members representing this Commonwealth and reflecting
the diversity of the target audiences in each MESA region as
follows:
(1) Not fewer than two representatives from each MESA
region appointed by the board.
(2) Elected officials, representatives of the board and
stakeholders as appointed by the board.
(3) Two members of the Pennsylvania Urban STEM Strategy
Group.
(4) The chair of the Pennsylvania Urban STEM Strategy
Group.
(c) Study.--The commission shall evaluate and report to the
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General Assembly annually on the following:
(1) Efficacy of Statewide MESA Initiatives.
(2) Effective utilization of MESA Initiative resources.
(3) Influence of the MESA Initiative on:
(i) Student STEM aptitudes, as measured by
standardized testing.
(ii) Teacher effectiveness.
(iii) STEM-based employment within MESA regions.
(d) Fiscal planning.--The commission shall propose a budget
for the MESA Initiative aligned with the goals developed under
section 4(d)(1).
(e) Meetings.--The commission shall meet no less than
quarterly.
Section 6. Effective date.
This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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