From Michael Geer, President
Pennsylvania Family Institute
Thomas J. Shaheen, Vice President for Policy for Pennsylvania Family Institute, testified on a panel last week before the state House Education Committee. He was there to support long-needed legislation, HB 1588, to protect church-affiliated educational preschool programs (including latchkey and Vacation Bible School programs) from unwarranted state intrusion. PFI was there for School Choice and Religious Freedom - to add YOUR voice, the voice of parents who choose to utilize and support religious preschools and ministries. Click here to read Shaheen's testimony.
This legislation is necessary to ensure religious freedom in religious educational preschool facilities. The proposed bill protects the rights of these institutions to follow their religious beliefs in their curriculum and staff requirements while maintaining the state's responsibility to ensure standards of health and safety that protect staff and children. Pennsylvania already has protections in place for kindergarten, elementary schools, and high schools. HB 1588 ensures that the state government does not have authority to impose content-based mandates on instruction at religious preschool and before- and after-school programs.
No comments:
Post a Comment