Pennsylvania HB 1258: An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in pupils and attendance, providing for personalized education program; providing for student freedom accounts; and establishing the Student Freedom Account Program.

Bill Text

PRINTER'S NO. 1403
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 1258
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY D'ORSIE, HAMM, KAUFFMAN, BOROWICZ, SCIALABBA,
ROWE, ANDERSON, LEADBETER AND FINK, APRIL 17, 2025
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, APRIL 17, 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 pupils and attendance, providing
for personalized education program; providing for student
freedom accounts; and establishing the Student Freedom
Account Program.
This act shall be known and may be cited as the Student
Freedom Account Act.
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 1327.4. Personalized Education Program.--(a) The
requirements contained in sections 1511 and 1511.1, except as
provided for in this section, and section 1605 shall not apply
to personalized education programs.
(b) A personalized education program shall not be considered
a nonpublic school under the provisions of this act.
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(c) The following apply to an affidavit of the parent or
guardian or other person having legal custody of a child who
will participate in a personalized education program:
(1) The affidavit shall be filed with the superintendent of
the school district of residence of the child prior to the
commencement of the personalized education program and annually
thereafter no later than August 1.
(2) The affidavit shall include:
(i) The name of the supervisor of the personalized education
program who shall be responsible for ensuring the provision of
instruction.
(ii) The name and age of the child.
(iii) The address and telephone number of the personalized
education program site.
(iv) A statement that the subjects as required by law will
be offered in the English language, including an outline of
proposed education objectives by subject area. The
superintendent may not use the required outline of proposed
education objectives in determining whether the personalized
education program is out of compliance with this section and
section 1327.
(v) Evidence that the child has been immunized in accordance
with the provisions of section 1303(a) and has received the
health and medical services required for students of the child's
age or grade level under Article XIV.
(vi) A statement that the personalized education program
shall comply with the provisions of this section and that the
affidavit shall be satisfactory evidence thereof.
(vii) A certification to be signed by the supervisor that
the supervisor, all adults living in the home and persons having
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legal custody of the child have not been convicted of the
criminal offenses enumerated in section 111(e) within five years
immediately preceding the date of the affidavit.
(3) The affidavit may contain information for more than one
child.
(d) If a personalized education program site is relocating
to another school district within this Commonwealth during the
course of the public school term or prior to the opening of the
public school term in the fall, the supervisor of the
personalized education program shall apply, by certified mail,
within thirty (30) days prior to the relocation, to the
superintendent of the district in which the supervisor currently
resides, requesting a letter of transfer for the personalized
education program to the district to which the personalized
education program is relocating. The following apply:
(1) The current superintendent of residence shall issue the
letter of transfer within thirty (30) days after receipt of the
certified mail request of the supervisor of the personalized
education program.
(2) If the personalized education program is not in
compliance with the provisions of this section, the
superintendent of the current district of residence shall inform
the supervisor of the personalized education program and the
superintendent of the district to which the personalized
education program is relocating the status of the personalized
education program and the reason for the denial of the letter of
transfer.
(3) If the personalized education program is in hearing
procedures, as contained in this section, the superintendent of
the current district of residence shall inform the supervisor of
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the personalized education program, the assigned hearing
examiner and the superintendent of the district to which the
personalized education program is relocating the status of the
personalized educati