Pennsylvania HB 1732: An Act amending the act of January 28, 1988 (P.L.24, No.11), known as the Private Academic Schools Act, further providing for application for license, for issuance and renewal of license and for promulgation of rules and regulations.

Bill Text

PRINTER'S NO. 2132
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 1732
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY CUTLER, STRUZZI, GILLEN AND KUZMA, JULY 14, 2025
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, JULY 14, 2025
AN ACT
Amending the act of January 28, 1988 (P.L.24, No.11), entitled
"An act defining and providing for the licensing and
regulation of private academic schools; reestablishing the
State Board of Private Academic Schools; imposing penalties;
and making repeals," further providing for application for
license, for issuance and renewal of license and for
promulgation of rules and regulations.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 7(b)(1) and (6) of the act of January 28,
1988 (P.L.24, No.11), known as the Private Academic Schools Act,
are amended to read:
Section 7. Application for license.
* * *
(b) Application contents.--The application shall require a
statement showing:
(1) The title or name and proposed address of the
school, grades and classes, together with the name of the
owners and controlling officers. An application may be
submitted prior to securing a physical facility through a
lease or ownership if a facility's planning statement is
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included in the application and identifies the school site
under active consideration, a timeline for finalizing the
lease or sale and a contingency plan in the event that the
lease or sale is not timely executed.
* * *
(6) The qualifications of teachers, professional staff
and director. An application may be submitted that includes
staffing projections and identifies the proposed teachers,
professional staff and director who meet the qualification
requirements, and who the applicant school intends to
formally hire upon receipt of licensure.
* * *
Section 2. Section 8 of the act is amended by adding a
subsection to read:
Section 8. Issuance and renewal of license.
* * *
(a.1) Conditional approval of licensure.--
(1) The board may grant conditional approval of initial
licensure, which approval is provisional and temporary and
does not exceed six months, if the board finds that the
application and the school for which a license is sought
substantially complies with this act and the rules and
regulations promulgated under this act but certain
application components remain pending, which may include:
(i) formal hiring of staffing projections identified
in the application or otherwise properly qualified staff;
and
(ii) submission of an occupying lease or face copy
of the deed and facility inspection completed by the
department as provided for in section 12(a).
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(2) The board may not grant an initial license under
paragraph (1) to an applicant school until the applicant
school submits evidence fulfilling the conditions for
approval. Failure to fulfill the conditions for approval
within the six month conditional approval period shall result
in revocation of the conditional approval without further
notice.
* * *
Section 3. Section 14 of the act is amended to read:
Section 14. Promulgation of rules and regulations.
(a) Rules and regulations generally.--The board shall
promulgate rules and regulations necessary to carry out the
purposes of this act. The rules and regulations of the State
Board of Private Academic Schools in force on the effective date
of this act, and not countermanded by this act, shall remain in
effect until repealed or amended by the board[, but not for a
period of more than one year].
(b) Qualifications for teachers, professional staff and
directors .--
(1) Not later than 180 days after the effective date of
this paragraph, the board shall promulgate rules and
regulations and establish policies, principles and standards
necessary to carry out the purposes of this act as they
relate to the qualifications of teachers, professional staff
and directors, which policies:
(i) Provide the authority for private academic
schools to apply for emergency permits and long-term or
day-to-day substitute permits through the department .
(ii) Provide for any additional requirements,
conditions or exemptions as may be required to issue
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emergency permits, long-term or day-to-day substitute
permits to accommodate the ability of private academic
schools to have fully qualified and properly certificated
or permitted teachers, professional staff and directors
to provide instruction and student services.
(2) Notwithstanding any other provision of this act, the
board may not issue an initial license or a renewal license
to a private academic school that identifies for employment
teachers, professional staff and directors qualified under
paragraph (1) until the rules and regulations, policies,
principles and standards required by paragraph (1) are in
effect.