Altoona Times

Incoming Pennsylvania House Republican Leader Jesse Topper has emphasized the need for transformational changes in the state's education system following the release of recent statewide assessment scores by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. The scores indicate some improvements in math and science proficiency, but show a decline in English language arts, highlighting a gap compared to pre-COVID achievement levels.

Topper stated, "While the statewide assessment scores released by the Pennsylvania Department of Education show some areas of improvement, it is clear we are still lagging behind our pre-COVID achievement scores and Pennsylvania students are continuing to learn at a deficit compared to their predecessors."

He stressed that significant changes are required to improve educational outcomes, noting that current budgetary and legislative priorities have not been effective. "If we are to expect tangible change in outcomes, we must have transformational change in our system of education. It is clear unfocused budgetary and legislative education priorities in state government are not benefitting Pennsylvania’s children in the classroom," Topper said.

Topper expressed his willingness to collaborate with others, including working across party lines and with the Shapiro administration, to achieve transformative changes necessary for advancing student education. "I look forward to continuing to work across the aisle and with the Shapiro administration to find common ground on shared goals that can advance the kind of transformative change in our education system our students so desperately need," he added.