Jan. 27, 2023
HARRISBURG – Rep. Jesse Topper (R-Bedford/Fulton) has been tapped to be the Republican voice on education when he was selected as the Republican chairman of the House Education Committee for the 2023-24 Legislative Session.
“I’m honored to serve in this capacity. The role of state government in education is to ensure that every student, regardless of where they live, has access to a high-quality educational experience at every level,” Topper said. “The status quo is no longer acceptable in K-12 or higher education, and we must be bold in our efforts to reform both systems. I’m passionate about the issues surrounding education and look forward to working with anyone who shares that common passion for students.”
Since taking office, Topper has been a leader on the education front. He previously served as chairman of the Education Committee’s Subcommittee on Higher Education. Topper also advocated for, and authored legislation related to reorganizing Pennsylvania’s public university system.
Improving school choice and opening additional opportunities to all students has also been at the forefront for Topper. Last session, he sponsored legislation to permit home education students to attend up to four academic classes during a school day and participate in co-curricular activities. He also sponsored a bill to improve several provisions in the Charter School law and bring more accountability to traditional K-12 schools, cyber-charter, and brick and mortar charter schools.
The House Education Committee deals with issues pertaining to both basic and higher education.