Aug. 20, 2020
HARRISBURG – Legislation authored by Reps. Mike Reese (R-Somerset/Westmoreland) and Jesse Topper (R-Bedford/Franklin/Fulton) that will impact sports, extracurricular activities and educational opportunities for students during the upcoming 2020-21 school year successfully passed through the House Education Committee today.
With the 2020-21 school year rapidly approaching and guidance from the administration continuing to change, students, parents and communities need clear and transparent direction for how extracurricular activities will occur in the fall without worrying that the guidance will change at any minute.
Reese's legislation,
House Bill 2787, will allow Pennsylvania’s local school districts to make decisions regarding fall sports and activities.
“This is great news for our students, parents and local communities. We need to fight for our students and give them the best chance at experiencing a ‘normal’ school year, and this is a great starting point,” said Reese. “I want to thank my colleagues on the House Education Committee for voting these pieces of legislation out of committee.”
Topper’s legislation,
House Bill 2788, will allow students and families to have the option to continue the student’s education and extracurricular activities for an additional year to make up for the loss of instruction and competition during the 2019-20 and 2020-21 school years.
“Passing these bills is vital to ensuring students, parents and local school officials decide what’s best for them and their communities,” Topper said. “Extracurricular activities, such as sports, are wonderful opportunities that are critical to the growth and development of our young people. We must give them the chance to fulfill their dreams and propel themselves to the next stage of life. For many student athletes, sports are a means to reach college and it would be incredibly damaging for them to miss such an opportunity.”
The bills now go before the full House for consideration.
Watch the meeting online here.
Representative Mike Reese
59th District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Brooke Haskell
717.260.6351
bhaskell@pahousegop.com
RepReese.com