CAMBRIA COUNTY, Pa. -- A round-table discussion with lawmakers at Penn Cambria High School could play an important role in your child's education. The students got a chance to meet with legislatures to talk about the vital role some state funded programs play in their lives.

"They are used to just sitting down with the superintendent or the teachers," said senior Justine Hrzic. "I think hearing from the students on how this impacts us has made a big impression on them."

Duel enrollment is just one of the programs funded by state dollars. The students can earn college credit by going part-time to local colleges. Other programs include tutoring, Pre-K Counts and Classrooms for the Future. That's where students get access to the latest technology like laptops and interactive whiteboards, projectors and more.

The students understand it all goes back to the taxpayers.

"They think it is ridiculous that they have to pay this tax and that tax," said senior Nicole Zaliznock. "School programs help students exceed in life. I think that is something worth spending your tax money on."

While lawmakers can't make any promises during this rough economy, they did listen intently to the students who not only got a chance to have their voices heard, they are also getting a lesson in politics.

"A lot of them came back and told me they were surprised how political education was," said history teacher Carl Newfield.