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Senate Passes White Bill to Strengthen PA Center
for Environmental Education
HARRISBURG -- Legislation
sponsored by state Sen. Mary Jo White (R-21) to strengthen a successful
statewide environmental education program based at Slippery Rock University has
been approved by the Senate.
The Pennsylvania Center for
Environmental Education serves as a statewide environmental education resource
for state agencies, county conservation districts, educators and nonprofit
organizations.
The PCEE was established by
Executive Order 1996-7. Senator White’s legislation, Senate Bill 410, would
amend the Environmental Education Act to establish the PCEE in statute,
strengthening its status among state programs and ensuring more stable funding.
“The State Board of Education
has adopted environment and ecology curriculum standards that students in
kindergarten through grade 12 must attain at each level, and the PCEE is an
important teaching aid. Senate Bill 410 supports this effort by establishing a
PCEE governing board, and ensuring it remains focused on environmental education
issues,” said White, who chairs the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy
Committee.
Among its various duties,
PCEE inventories and generates environmental education related research;
maintains an Internet-based environmental resources network; and provides
training and education opportunities for educators and citizens.
“The Pennsylvania Center for
Environmental Education makes learning tools available to teachers, home-school
parents and students via the Internet and newsletters. This legislation is
designed to make sure such information continues to be available,” said White.
“It’s an excellent resource and it says a lot about Slippery Rock University
that the PCEE has come so far.”
Similar legislation was
approved by the Senate last year, but did not reach a vote in the House of
Representatives. Senator White worked closely with Gov. Ed Rendell to win
passage of Senate Bill 410 in the Senate. The bill was sent to the House of
Representatives.
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