House Education Committee approves Freeman tutoring legislation
Rep. Robert L. Freeman April 24, 2023 | 12:14 PM
HARRISBURG, April 24 – The House Education Committee today amended and approved legislation authored by state Rep. Robert Freeman that would provide high school juniors and seniors with academic credit for tutoring students in lower grades.
“Tutoring can increase good study habits, improve academic performance, boost self-esteem and put students in charge of their own learning process as they pass that knowledge onto other students. The students being tutored would get the extra attention they need to improve their academic performance, and students in lower grades are typically more receptive to learning from a high school student who would serve as a mentor,” said Freeman, D-Northampton.
Freeman said his legislation would require the state Department of Education to establish tutoring program guidelines, which would provide academic credit to students in 11th and 12th grades for tutoring students in lower grades.
School districts would be able to implement the program at little or no cost to taxpayers, and it would enhance academic performance for both the students being tutored and the students providing the tutoring, according to Freeman.
“I would like to thank my Lehigh Valley colleague and new Majority Chairman of the House Education Committee Peter Schweyer for recognizing the significance of my bill on the student learning process and moving it through the committee early in the legislative session so that it has time to be considered by the full House before being sent to the state Senate,” Freeman said.
House Bill 100 now awaits consideration by the full House of Representatives, which could happen as soon as later this week.