Pennsylvania SB 974: An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in miscellaneous provisions relating to institutions of higher education, further providing for Dual Credit Innovation Grant Program.

Bill Text

PRINTER'S NO. 1115
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No. 974
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY HUTCHINSON, AUGUST 25, 2025
REFERRED TO EDUCATION, AUGUST 25, 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 miscellaneous provisions relating
to institutions of higher education, further providing for
Dual Credit Innovation Grant Program.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 2004-I(a), (c) and (d) of the act of
March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code
of 1949, added July 17, 2024 (P.L.818, No.69), are amended,
subsection (f) is amended by adding paragraphs and subsection
(g) is amended by adding a definition to read:
Section 2004-I. Dual Credit Innovation Grant Program.
(a) Establishment.--The Dual Credit Innovation Grant Program
is established within the department to award grants to public
institutions of higher education that offer dual credit
opportunities to high school students enrolled in a school
entity[.] and to community education councils that collaborate
with one or more institutions of higher education to offer dual
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credit opportunities to high school students enrolled in a
school entity.
* * *
(c) Priority.--The department shall give priority in grant
funding to public institutions of higher education that expand
the current offerings of the public institution of higher
education and to community education councils, in collaboration
with one or more public institutions of higher education, with a
particular emphasis on providing courses aligned with high-
priority occupations and serving students experiencing education
instability as defined in section 1331.1, students enrolled in
career and technical education programs, low-income students,
historically underserved student groups and students in rural
areas of this Commonwealth.
(d) Additional priority.--If the department does not receive
sufficient applications to expend the available funding under
this section, the department may award grants for the uses under
subsection (b) to State-related institutions and independent
institutions of higher education and community education
councils in collaboration with one or more institutions of
higher education.
* * *
(f) Reporting and accountability.--For the purpose of
improving data collection and transparency related to the value
of dual credit courses to the success of students as they
graduate high school and transition to postsecondary education,
the department shall annually collect student-level data from
grant recipients and use other existing data resources to inform
the following measures and post aggregate, de-identified
information related to all of the following on the department's
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publicly accessible Internet website:
* * *
(10) The number of college credits earned by students
enrolled in dual credit courses which were offered through a
collaboration between a community education council and an
institution of higher education.
(11) The number of students enrolled in dual credit
courses which were offered through a collaboration between a
community education council and an institution of higher
education.
(12) The percentage of dual credit students who earned
college credits through a collaboration between a community
education council and an institution of higher education that
enroll in an institution of higher education following high
school graduation.
(g) Definitions.--As used in this section, the following
words and phrases shall have the meanings given to them in this
subsection unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Community education council." As defined in section 1901-D.
* * *
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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