Pennsylvania SB 700: An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, establishing the Public Higher Education Funding Commission; providing for construction and renovation of buildings by school entities; and establishing a grant program for maintenance projects.

Bill Text

PRINTER'S NO. 714
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No. 700
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY ROBINSON, HUGHES, COLEMAN, PENNYCUICK, FONTANA,
HAYWOOD, KIM, CULVER, FLYNN, COSTA, J. WARD, STREET, STEFANO
AND SANTARSIERO, APRIL 30, 2025
REFERRED TO EDUCATION, APRIL 30, 2025
AN ACT
Amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), entitled "An
act relating to the public school system, including certain
provisions applicable as well to private and parochial
schools; amending, revising, consolidating and changing the
laws relating thereto," in evidence-based reading
instruction, further providing for definitions and for
evidence-based reading instruction curriculum and providing
for reading screening, for reading deficiency and
identification, for school entity duties and reading
intervention plan, for parent notification, for grants to
school entities, for funding and for reporting; and
establishing the Evidence-based Reading Instruction
Restricted Account.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 1501-N of the act of March 10, 1949
(P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, is
amended by adding definitions to read:
Section 1501-N. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this article
shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise:
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"Core curriculum." The curriculum for English language arts
that is adopted for tier 1 instruction to all students.
* * *
"Parent." An individual who has legal custody or
guardianship of a student.
* * *
Section 2. Section 1502-N of the act, added October 31, 2024
(P.L.1129, No.135), is amended to read:
Section 1502-N. Evidence-based reading instruction curriculum.
(a) Department duties and expiration.--
(1) The department shall develop a process for a vendor
to submit an evidence-based reading instruction curriculum
for review by the department, in consultation with the
council, for inclusion on the list developed and maintained
under paragraph (2).
(2) By June 1, 2025, the department shall develop and
maintain a list of evidence-based reading instruction
curricula [that meets] for use in school entities. A
curriculum on this list must meet all of the following
requirements:
(i) [The curricula shall be] Be aligned with the
Commonwealth's academic standards and the science of
reading.
(ii) [The curricula shall include] Include a logical
scope and sequence for implementing curriculum that is
systematic and cumulative.
(3) The department shall maintain all of the following
on the department's publicly accessible Internet website:
(i) The current list of curricula under paragraph
(2).
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(ii) The criteria and rubrics used to identify high-
quality curriculum under paragraph (2) and to approve
universal reading screeners under [subsection (b)]
section 1503-N(d)(1). The criteria and rubrics must be
developed in consultation with the council.
(4) The department shall provide a process through which
a school entity can submit an application for additional
curriculum that meets the requirements under paragraph (2)
for inclusion on the list developed and maintained by the
department under paragraph (2).
(5) The department shall establish a reading leadership
council that shall advise the department on the development
and maintenance of the list of reading instruction curricula
[that meets the requirements] required under paragraph (2), a
list of structured literacy professional development training
programs that successfully meet the essential content
requirements in section 1205.8(c)(1), the list of universal
reading screeners and the list of structured literacy
intervention approaches [that meets the requirements under
subsection (b)] required under section 1503-N(d)(1). The
following shall apply:
(i) The council shall have 20 members appointed by
the department who have expertise in structured literacy
and shall include public school elementary school staff,
including the following:
(A) Primary classroom teachers in kindergarten
through third grade.
(B) Reading specialists.
(C) Literacy coaches.
(D) Elementary special education teachers.
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(E) A learning support employee with experience
working with subgroups as defined in the Every
Student Succeeds Act (Public Law 114-95, 129 Stat.
1802).
(ii) Membership on the council shall reflect
geographic representation of school districts, including
diversity of district types, including rural, urban and
suburban.
(iii) The council shall meet at least once every two
months at dates and times determined by the department.
Meetings of the council shall be held in accordance with
65 Pa.C.S. Ch. 7 (relating to open meetings).
(