House Approves Topper Bill Funding Higher Education Based on Performance

June 30, 2022

HARRISBURG – To ensure state-related universities are returning the fullest return of investments from state taxpayer dollars, the House approved House Bill 2619, a performance-based funding incentive, said bill sponsor Rep. Jesse Topper (R-Bedford/Franklin/Fulton).

“This bill supports both our students and our state-related universities by providing funding incentives that match student achievement,” Topper said. “Performance-based metrics are the future of how we fund higher education in this state, and this is a step forward.” 

House Bill 2619 awards new funding to state-related universities using benchmarks that include graduation and student retention rates, postgraduation employment and salaries, post-secondary program offerings aligned with the state’s workforce development priorities and postsecondary credential and minimizing the need to repeat courses or to incur additional costs.

New funding, money that exceeds the base state funding, would follow the performance-based structure. The state-related universities to receive new funding through the new formula are the Pennsylvania State University, including the Pennsylvania College of Technology, the University of Pittsburgh and Temple University, as well as associated branch campuses.
The bill now goes to the Senate for consideration. 

Editors’ note: To view Rep. Topper’s comments made on the House floor on the bill, watch the below video.