Pennsylvania State Rep. Tim Briggs and State Sen. Daylin Leach discussed timely topics in public education—including the Keystone Exams, budget cuts, special education, spending reform and school vouchers—at a legislative and education forum on “Student Achievement for All” hosted June 2 by Arcadia University at the King of Prussia Campus.

More than two dozen educators from Montgomery, Delaware and Chester counties attended the forum, moderated by Dr. Kim Dean, Assistant Professor of Education at Arcadia. Many of the questions were centered on budget cuts in education programs. Both legislators expressed concern about the ramifications for students and classroom resources. Briggs suggested that educators should reach out to their legislators to keep a dialogue active. “Be in contact with your legislators,” he advised. “Send personal stories, share your personal experiences as a teacher or administrator and tell them how these budget issues are affecting you at the local level.”

Leach ended the forum by thanking the teachers, principals, superintendents and other district personnel for attending. “Public education is the glue that holds society together,” he said. “The State of Pennsylvania has some of the best educational resources in the nation.”

The June 2nd program is part of a series of leadership forums sponsored by Arcadia University and organized by Andrea Zeises, M.Ed., Director of Education Initiatives at Arcadia University. Follow-up forums are being planned by a steering committee composed of local educators and tri-county district officials as well as deans and teaching faculty from Arcadia University.

Briggs represents the 149th Legislative District, in Montgomery County, which includes part of Lower Merion and Upper Merion and the Boroughs of West Conshohocken and Bridgeport. Communities within his district include King of Prussia, Swedesburg, Swedeland, Gulph Mills, Villanova, Rosemont, Bryn Mawr, Haverford, Ardmore, Wynnewood, and Penn Wynne.

Leach represents the 17th Senatorial District that includes Bridgeport, Conshohocken, East Norriton, Haverford, Lower Merion , Narberth, Norristown, Plymouth, Radnor, Upper Merion and West Conshohocken.