Pennsylvania HB 2157: An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in career and technical education, providing for governance of schools and institutes.

Bill Text

PRINTER'S NO. 2791
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 2157
Session of
2026
INTRODUCED BY DAY, KUZMA AND M. MACKENZIE, JANUARY 23, 2026
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, JANUARY 26, 2026
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 career and technical education,
providing for governance of schools and institutes.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. The act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known
as the Public School Code of 1949, is amended by adding a
section to read:
Section 1859. Governance of Schools and Institutes.--(a) No
later than three years after the effective date of this
subsection, the administration, governance, operation and
management of a school or an institute under this subarticle
shall be transferred to a governance board.
(b) The membership of a governance board shall consist of a
minimum of five members who are approved by the department. A
member may not be an individual who is:
(1) a member of a board of school directors;
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(2) a member of an employe organization;
(3) an employe of a school district; or
(4) a public official.
(c) The department shall establish policies and procedures
for the submission and approval of members to a governance
board. The following shall apply:
(1) The policies and procedures shall require the department
to consider whether the individual submitted for approval
adequately represents any of the following:
(i) The trades, industries and businesses located within the
local workforce development area established in accordance with
the act of December 18, 2001 (P.L.949, No.114), known as the
Workforce Development Act, which encompasses the physical
location of the school or institute.
(ii) The staff of the school or institute.
(iii) The parents or guardians of students enrolled in and
attending the school or institute.
(2) The policies and procedures shall require the department
to consider whether the individual submitted for approval is
adequately qualified for the administration, governance,
operation and management of a school or an institute.
(3) The policies and procedures shall be posted on the
department's publicly accessible Internet website.
(4) An individual submitted for approval shall be subject to
a public hearing.
(5) An individual submitted for approval shall be approved
or denied within sixty days of the submission.
(d) Upon approval, members of a governance board shall serve
for a four-year term, commencing the day of their approval. The
length of the terms of office of the initial members shall be
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determined by the casting of lots in accordance with the
following:
(1) The terms of office of one-fourth of the members shall
expire at the end of the first year.
(2) The terms of office of one-fourth of the members shall
expire at the end of the second year.
(3) The terms of office of one-fourth of the members shall
expire at the end of the third year.
(4) The terms of office of the remaining one-fourth of the
members shall expire at the end of the fourth year.
(e) A governance board shall have all authority necessary
for the administration, governance, operation and management of
a school or an institute, including the authority and duties
under section 1850.1(b).
(f) Nothing in this section shall be construed to provide
any additional authority to a school district or an employe
organization.
(g) A governance board shall be considered a local agency
under the act of February 14, 2008 (P.L.6, No.3), known as the
Right-to-Know Law.
(h) A governance board shall be considered an agency under
65 Pa.C.S. Ch. 7 (relating to open meetings).
(i) 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:
"Department" means the Department of Education of the
Commonwealth.
"Employe organization" means as defined in section 1101-A.
"Public official" means as defined in 65 Pa.C.S. § 1102
(relating to definitions).
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Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
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