Pennsylvania SB 547: An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in certification of teachers, further providing for continuing professional development; providing for access to advanced courses for all students; establishing the Access to Advanced Courses for All Students Grant Program; and imposing duties on the Department of Education.

Bill Text

PRINTER'S NO. 562
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No. 547
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY LAUGHLIN, APRIL 4, 2025
REFERRED TO EDUCATION, APRIL 4, 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 certification of teachers, further
providing for continuing professional development; providing
for access to advanced courses for all students; establishing
the Access to Advanced Courses for All Students Grant
Program; and imposing duties on the Department of Education.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 1205.1(c.1)(3) of the act of March 10,
1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949,
is amended to read:
Section 1205.1. Continuing Professional Development.--* * *
(c.1) The continuing professional education plan shall
specify the professional education needs that will be met by
completion of each continuing professional education option and
how it relates to areas of assignment and certification or
potential administrative certification. The options may include,
but shall not be limited to:
* * *
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(3) Other programs, activities or learning experiences taken
for credit or hourly, to include:
(i) curriculum development and other program design and
delivery activities at the school entity or grade level as
determined by the school entity and approved by the board of
directors;
(ii) participation in professional conferences and
workshops;
(iii) education in the workplace, where the work relates to
the professional educator's area of assignment and is approved
by the board of directors;
(iv) review, redesign and restructuring of school programs,
organizations and functions as determined by the school entity
and approved by the board of directors;
(v) in-service programs that comply with guidelines
established by the department;
(vi) early childhood and child development activities for
professional educators whose area of assignment includes
kindergarten through third grade;
(vii) special education activities for professional
educators whose area of assignment includes students with
special needs;
(viii) successful completion of department training for
service as a Distinguished Educator if the professional educator
participates in and completes at least one assignment in the
Distinguished Educators Program;
(ix) other continuing professional education courses,
programs, activities or learning experiences sponsored by the
department; [or]
(x) visits by educators to a manufacturing workplace for
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orientation and demonstrations to give the professional educator
a greater understanding of job opportunities in manufacturing
for students[.]; or
(xi) providing opportunities for educators to serve as
advanced coursework coaches to support teachers in delivering
high-quality advanced coursework instruction.
* * *
Section 2. The act is amended by adding an article to read:
ARTICLE XVII-E
ACCESS TO ADVANCED COURSES FOR ALL STUDENTS
Section 1701-E. Scope of article.
This article relates to access to advanced courses for all
students.
Section 1702-E. 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:
"Advanced course." An academically rigorous college-level
course delivered to secondary students by an eligible educator
that includes an end-of-course exam that qualifies students to
earn college credit for prior learning.
"Core academic areas." Mathematics, English language arts,
science, social studies and computer science.
"Department." The Department of Education of the
Commonwealth.
"Educator." A "professional employe," "temporary
professional employe" or "substitute" as those terms are defined
in section 1101.
"Educator training entity." An institution of higher
education, intermediate unit or other organization approved by
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the department to train educators to teach advanced courses. For
courses, the educator training entity shall also be endorsed by
the provider of advanced course work.
"Eligible educator." An educator who is certified in the
subject area of the advanced course that the educator will be
teaching.
"Eligible school entity." A school entity that does not meet
the minimum benchmarks for advanced course offerings established
by the department under section 1703-E(b)(2)(i) or is unable to
offer an advanced course due to the retirement, departure or
other loss of an educator who teaches an advanced course.
"Exa