To combat the Governor’s recommendation of a $500,000 cut in the state appropriation for adult and family literacy, each organization received postcards to send to their legislators.  In addition to this, each organization is urged to invite their legislators to visit their program or speak at a recognition or graduation event.

On March 25 and 26, the Senate Education Committee held a hearing on appropriations (which includes ABLE). In addition to my being there as legislative chair, Jeff Woodyard (Tri-County OIC) and Dr. Lori Fair (HACC) both from chairman’s Senator Piccola’s district attended the hearing. A question regarding the Governor’s recommendation to cut ABLE funding was asked of Secretary Zahorchak. The response was that the program is valuable; however, it is a difficult budget year.

How you can help:

• Send postcards to your legislators supporting funding for adult education and family literacy services in Pennsylvania.
• Invite legislators to visit your program or speak at a recognition and graduation events.
• Ask your co-workers, volunteers, students, community partners, local businesses, and friends to support adult education and family literacy by contacting their local legislators too.

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Under the Pennsylvania Tuition Relief Act announced as part of the Governor’s 2009-10 budget proposal, all incoming students who qualify and seek to attend state-owned or community colleges would pay what they can afford in accordance with established financial aid practices. Every family will pay at least $1,000 a year for each child in college.  Tuition relief would start this fall for incoming freshmen and reach nearly $550 million by the time the program is fully in place. It would be funded through revenues collected from the legalization and regulation of video poker, which is already widespread in bars and clubs across Pennsylvania .  This landmark tuition relief proposal could help hundreds of thousands of Pennsylvania families while building a world-class workforce.

PAACE is urging the Pennsylvania state legislators to ensure that the Pennsylvania Tuition Relief Act passes to make college tuition more affordable for every Pennsylvania family earning under $100,000 a year. It will help more than 170,000 students once in place, while putting a college degree within reach of 10,000 students who otherwise would be unable to afford tuition. 

PAACE has created an online petition and is urging you to sign the petition and ask your students, volunteers and community partners to also get involved.

How you can help:

Pennsylvania has learned that it will receive a reduction of $1.8 million in its 09-10 allocation due to the methodology used in counting population.  Please note that, although the federal appropriation is level funded, because Pennsylvania lost population, there will be a reduction of funds. 

Therefore, a major push is occurring with Senator Specter (since he is on the Appropriations Committee) and all Congresspersons to increase appropriations to $750 million for FY 10-11. Senator Specter is already an advocate for the hold harmless and has co-signed a letter to the U.S. Secretary of Education expressing his concern. Please email or write letters and fax them to your Congresspersons urging the increase in the federal appropriation. To date, Pennsylvania Representatives Brady and Fattah from Philadelphia have signed a Dear Colleague letter using this increase.

How you can help:

• Please email and phone Senator Specter and your congresspersons – urge them to increase the federal appropriation to $750 million.

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