City of Philadelphia - File #: 071010

• File #: 071010
• Version: 0
• Type: Resolution
• Status: ADOPTED
• File created: 11/15/2007
• In control: CITY COUNCIL
• Final action: 11/15/2007
• Title: Calling Upon the Pennsylvania General Assembly to Approve HB 1722 Establishing the REACH Program--Reliable Educational Assistance for College Hopefuls--Allowing Pennsylvania High School Students that Perform Well in High School to Attend State Universities Tuition-Free.
• Sponsors: Councilmember Blackwell, Councilmember Reynolds Brown, Councilmember Reynolds Brown, Councilmember Clarke, Councilmember Clarke, Councilmember Miller, Councilmember Miller, Councilmember Greenlee, Councilmember Greenlee, Councilmember Rizzo, Councilmember Rizzo, Councilmember Ramos, Councilmember Ramos, Councilmember Goode, Councilmember Goode, Councilmember Krajewski, Councilmember Krajewski, Councilmember Kenney, Councilmember Kenney, Council President Verna, Council President Verna, Councilmember Kelly, Councilmember Kelly

Date	Ver.	Action By	Action	Result	Tally
11/15/2007	0	CITY COUNCIL	ADOPTED
11/15/2007	0	CITY COUNCIL	READ
11/15/2007	0	CITY COUNCIL	Introduced	Pass

Title
Calling Upon the Pennsylvania General Assembly to Approve HB 1722 Establishing the REACH Program--Reliable Educational Assistance for College Hopefuls--Allowing Pennsylvania High School Students that Perform Well in High School to Attend State Universities Tuition-Free.
Body
WHEREAS, On July 27, 2007, State Representative Payton, D-Phila., joined by House Speaker Dennis O'Brien, announced the establishment of the REACH Program--Reliable Educational Assistance for College Hopefuls; and

WHEREAS, The REACH Program will provide Pennsylvania students who have demonstrated academic excellence the opportunity to attend college; and

WHEREAS, The Program also provides for a statewide merit-based scholarship program for all students in Pennsylvania who maintain at least a 3.0 grade-point average and a 90 percent attendance record; and

WHEREAS, The program would ensure those students would receive a scholarship covering all tuition and fees to any university in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education; and

WHEREAS, Representative Tony Payton has explained the need for the Program by saying, "I believe that all responsible students who exhibit a passion for learning in high school should be given the opportunity to continue their intellectual development. The REACH program would do that by providing a full scholarship, covering tuition and fees, to all qualified high school students, regardless of economic background, gender, race and/or religious affiliation. Every public, private and parochial school student who meets the base criteria would be eligible for a scholarship"; and

WHEREAS, The REACH Program would be an investment in the state's future and reverse the trend of students seeking higher education outside of the Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, The Pennsylvania General Assembly should support enactment of HB 1722 because, in Representative Payton's words, it will give, "Pennsylvania's best and brightest an incentive to stay in-st...