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For Immediate Release
July 3, 2008
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White Bill to Strengthen Pennsylvania Center for
Environmental Education to Become Law
Four-year effort on behalf of
Slippery Rock University-based resource center comes to fruition.
Harrisburg – Legislation sponsored by state Sen. Mary Jo White (R-21) to
strengthen a successful statewide environmental education program based at
Slippery Rock University was approved today by the General Assembly and sent to
the governor to be signed into law.
The Senate approved similar legislation sponsored by White in the previous
two legislative sessions, but the House of Representatives did not vote on the
measures. The current version was approved by the Senate last year, and the bill
received House approval today. Senator White worked closely with Gov. Ed Rendell
to ensure he would support the measure.
The Pennsylvania Center for Environmental Education is a statewide
environmental education resource for state agencies, county conservation
districts, educators and nonprofit organizations.
The PCEE was established 10 years ago by Executive Order. Senator White's
legislation,
Senate Bill 356, would amend the Environmental Education Act to establish
the PCEE in statute, strengthening its status among state programs and ensuring
more stable funding.
"The Pennsylvania Center for Environmental Education is a statewide resource
for environmental education materials, with readily accessible web resources,"
said White. "The state has set environment and ecology curriculum standards that
students must meet. This new law will ensure that the PCEE will be able to count
on stable support from the Commonwealth."
Senate Bill 356 will establish a PCEE governing board, ensuring it remains
focused on environmental education issues, said White.
"I'm proud that Slippery Rock University has turned the Pennsylvania Center
for Environmental Education into a truly statewide resource," said White.
"Enacting this legislation will make learning tools available to teachers,
home-school parents and students via the Internet and newsletters. It's been a
long time coming, but PCEE is a proven education program that finally has
committed state support."
Contact:
Pat
Henderson
(717) 787-9684
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