Bill Text: PA HB110 | 2013-2014 | Regular Session | Introduced
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 23-3)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2013-01-15 - Referred to EDUCATION [HB110 Detail]
Download: Pennsylvania-2013-HB110-Introduced.html
| PRINTER'S NO. 101 |
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. | 110 | Session of 2013 |
INTRODUCED BY ROEBUCK, LONGIETTI, O'BRIEN, CLAY, CARROLL, HARKINS, O'NEILL, SANTARSIERO, FLECK, BISHOP, D. COSTA, DAVIS, FABRIZIO, HALUSKA, KORTZ, KULA, MCGEEHAN, READSHAW, ROZZI, THOMAS, FRANKEL AND CALTAGIRONE, JANUARY 15, 2013
REFERRED TO COMMITEE ON EDUCATION, JANUARY 15, 2013
AN ACT
1Establishing the MESA Initiative; providing for duties of the
2State Board of Education; and establishing the State MESA
3Commission.
4The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
5hereby enacts as follows:
6Section 1. Short title.
7This act shall be known and may be cited as the Pennsylvania
8MESA Initiative Act.
9Section 2. Definitions.
10The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
11have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
12context clearly indicates otherwise:
13"Board." The State Board of Education of the Commonwealth.
14"Commission." The State MESA Commission established under
15section 5.
16"MESA." Mathematics, engineering and science achievement.
17"MESA Initiative." The program established under section 3
1to promote science, engineering and mathematics education.
2"STEM." Science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
3Section 3. MESA Initiative.
4The MESA Initiative is hereby established as a program that
5shall seek to increase exposure, educational motivation and
6achievement of students in mathematics, engineering and science
7and build individual and regional capacity to compete for STEM-
8based jobs in the global market with a particular emphasis on
9students, parents, educators and employers from urban and rural
10groups who have historically had the lowest levels of high
11school diploma attainment and participation in college and
12graduate education.
13Section 4. Administration of MESA Initiative.
14(a) Designation of administrative agency.--The board shall
15administer the MESA Initiative, including Statewide MESA
16funding, operations, regional groups, programs and evaluations,
17with particular emphasis on goals related to diversity and
18inclusion of underrepresented and economically disadvantaged
19groups in all operational and programmatic activities.
20(b) Coordination.--The board shall coordinate the efforts of
21the Commonwealth agencies that relate to MESA education from the
22kindergarten level through the graduate level to avoid
23unnecessary duplication of initiatives and ensure adherence to
24established guidelines.
25(c) Structure of MESA regions.--The board shall work with
26the regional higher education institutions, the Pennsylvania
27Urban STEM Strategy Group and no fewer than five established
28MESA regions in this Commonwealth to build on existing STEM-
29based infrastructure to support not fewer than four professional
30staff, 20 retired industry mentor volunteers, 20 certified MESA
1teacher-coordinators and 20 MESA-trained school administrators
2in each MESA region.
3(d) Duties.--The board shall have the following duties:
4(1) In conjunction with the Pennsylvania Urban STEM
5Strategy Group, developing annual goals and objectives for
6implementing and ensuring fidelity of MESA programs
7throughout this Commonwealth with particular emphasis on
8regional economic and educational needs.
9(2) No later than 30 days after developing the goals and
10objectives under paragraph (1):
11(i) Disseminating the goals and objectives to the
12State MESA Commission and the MESA regions.
13(ii) Communicating the goals and objectives to all
14relevant agencies of the Commonwealth and collaborative
15regional entities.
16(iii) Making the goals and objectives available to
17the general public, particularly to stakeholders.
18(3) Coordinating and facilitating communication and
19cooperation among all MESA regions and assuring compliance
20with established guidelines for the MESA Initiative.
21(4) Conducting an ongoing inventory and assessment of
22the effectiveness and coherence of efforts within the MESA
23regions.
24(5) Annually evaluating the progress and success of the
25MESA regions in achieving the goals and objectives under
26paragraph (1).
27(6) Consulting with the Commonwealth agencies when
28developing policies and initiatives related to MESA.
29(7) Strengthening partnerships between the national MESA
30community, Federal, State and local governments and relevant
1international partners.
2(8) Conducting an annual meeting on the status of the
3MESA Initiative, in conjunction with:
4(i) Relevant State agencies.
5(ii) The State MESA Commission, as hosting entity.
6(iii) Other state MESA Initiatives.
7(iv) Regional businesses and industries.
8(v) The State System of Higher Education.
9(vi) Education professionals from the kindergarten
10through graduate levels.
11(vii) Existing regional STEM groups.
12(viii) Other relevant stakeholders.
13Section 5. State MESA Commission.
14(a) Establishment.--There is hereby established a State MESA
15Commission to oversee the advancement of mathematics,
16engineering, science and technology education.
17(b) Membership.--The commission shall consist of no fewer
18than 20 members representing this Commonwealth and reflecting
19the diversity of the target audiences in each MESA region as
20follows:
21(1) Not fewer than two representatives from each MESA
22region appointed by the board.
23(2) Elected officials, representatives of the board and
24stakeholders as appointed by the board.
25(3) Two members of the Pennsylvania Urban STEM Strategy
26Group.
27(4) The chair of the Pennsylvania Urban STEM Strategy
28Group.
29(c) Study.--The commission shall evaluate and report to the
30General Assembly annually on the following:
1(1) Efficacy of Statewide MESA Initiatives.
2(2) Effective utilization of MESA Initiative resources.
3(3) Influence of the MESA Initiative on:
4(i) Student STEM aptitudes, as measured by
5standardized testing.
6(ii) Teacher effectiveness.
7(iii) STEM-based employment within MESA regions.
8(d) Fiscal planning.--The commission shall propose a budget
9for the MESA Initiative aligned with the goals developed under
10section 4(d)(1).
11(e) Meetings.--The commission shall meet no less than
12quarterly.
13Section 6. Effective date.
14This act shall take effect in 60 days.
