Pennsylvania HB 2659: An Act making appropriations from the Philadelphia Taxicab and Limousine Regulatory Fund and the Philadelphia Taxicab Medallion Fund to the Philadelphia Parking Authority for the fiscal year July 1, 2022, to June 30, 2023.

Bill Text

PRINTER'S NO. 3670
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 2659
Session of
2026
INTRODUCED BY CURRY, WAXMAN, KAZEEM, RIVERA, SANCHEZ, MAYES,
D. WILLIAMS AND ISAACSON, JUNE 22, 2026
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, JUNE 22, 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," establishing the Advanced Teaching
Roles and Evidence-based Strategic Staffing Program; and
imposing powers and duties on the Department of Education.
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 an
article to read:
ARTICLE XII-D
ADVANCED TEACHING ROLES AND EVIDENCE-BASED
STRATEGIC STAFFING PROGRAM
Section 1201-D. Scope of article.
This article relates to the Advanced Teaching Roles and
Evidence-based Strategic Staffing Program.
Section 1202-D. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this article
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shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Classroom teacher." A teacher who works in a classroom
providing instruction for at least 30% of the instructional day
and is not classified as instructional support personnel.
"Department." The Department of Education of the
Commonwealth.
"Empirical evidence." The term includes experimental or
quasi-experimental studies or rigorous internal data analyses
comparing participating classrooms or schools to comparable
nonparticipating classrooms or schools.
"Employee organization." As the term "employe organization"
is defined in section 301(3) of the act of July 23, 1970
(P.L.563, No.195), known as the Public Employe Relations Act.
"Evidence-based strategic staffing." A school staffing model
that:
(1) Is supported by empirical evidence demonstrating
improved student learning, growth and educator outcomes.
(2) Includes the following criteria:
(i) Teams of educators, including teachers, support
staff such as paraprofessionals and tutors, student
teachers, teacher apprentices or residents, that are
collectively responsible for supporting groups of
students, for planning and instruction and for the
outcomes of their students.
(ii) Differentiated roles and compensation,
including team leader positions for teachers.
(iii) Structure and time for educator collaboration
and support.
(iv) Flexibility in school staffing and scheduling
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that provides teacher participation in the design of
scheduling.
(v) Integrated preparation pathways into the
teaching profession.
"Program." The Advanced Teaching Roles and Evidence-based
Strategic Staffing Program established under this article.
"Strategic scheduling." Protected time during the school day
aligned with each role's instructional and leadership
responsibilities, including time for collaboration, planning,
data analysis and instructional coaching.
"Teacher-led team." A team of educators led by a teacher who
is selected based on demonstrated prior high student growth and
responsible for student outcomes across all students served by
the team.
Section 1203-D. Establishment of program.
The Advanced Teaching Roles and Evidence-based Strategic
Staffing Program is established within the department. The
program shall award grants to participating school districts for
the following purposes:
(1) Expand the reach of highly effective classroom
teachers by enabling them to:
(i) serve additional students in an advanced
teaching role;
(ii) become a lead classroom teacher accountable for
the student performance of all students taught by
teachers on the lead classroom teacher's team; or
(iii) lead a larger effort in the school to
implement new instructional models to improve schoolwide
performance.
(2) Enable school districts to design and implement
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innovative compensation models that:
(i) support classroom teacher professional growth;
(ii) are tied to measurable improvements in student
outcomes; and
(iii) provide additional compensation for advanced
teaching roles, provided that teachers selected for
advanced teaching roles and any associated salary
supplements are based on demonstrated effectiveness and
the assumption of additional responsibilities.
(3) Establish organizational changes related to
compensation in order to support educators in implementing
evidence-based teaching practices and to enable the practices
to be replicated across this Commonwealth.
(4) Permit school districts to align strategic staffing
efforts with other Statewide education priorities, i