Pennsylvania HB 727: An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in the State System of Higher Education, providing for equalization of appropriations.

Bill Text

PRINTER'S NO. 748
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 727
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY WEBSTER, SANCHEZ, HILL-EVANS, MADDEN, RIVERA,
BOROWSKI AND CERRATO, FEBRUARY 25, 2025
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, FEBRUARY 25, 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 preliminary provisions, further
providing for definitions, for Keystone Exams and graduation
requirements and for special provisions applicable to the
Keystone Exams, graduation requirements and alternative
competency assessment; in district superintendents and
assistant district superintendents, further providing for
performance review; in professional employees, further
providing for definitions; in pupils and attendance, further
providing for assisting students experiencing education
instability; in E-chievement Program, further providing for
definitions; and, in educational tax credits, further
providing for definitions.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 102 of the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30,
No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, is amended by
adding a definition to read:
Section 102. Definitions.--When used in this act the
following words and phrases shall have the following meanings:
* * *
"ACT test." A standardized test for the assessment of
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25

college readiness administered by ACT.
* * *
Section 2. Section 121(a), (c) introductory paragraph and
(1), (c.1) introductory paragraph, (1), (2) introductory
paragraph, (iii) and (iv), (3) introductory paragraph and (ii)
(C) and (4), (c.2)(1) introductory paragraph and (i), (c.3)
introductory paragraph, (2)(i)(A) and (4), (c.4) introductory
paragraph, (c.7), (c.8), (c.9) and (c.11)(5)(i) and the
definitions of "ACT" and "approved alternative assessment" in
subsection (d) of the act are amended to read:
Section 121. Keystone Exams and Graduation Requirements.--
(a) The department shall develop and implement Keystone Exams
in algebra I, literature and biology. [The State Board of
Education shall promulgate or revise regulations, subject to the
act of June 25, 1982 (P.L.633, No.181), known as the "Regulatory
Review Act," necessary to implement this section.] By July 1,
2027, the department shall approve the ACT test to be used for
evaluating student performance in algebra I, literature and
biology. After July 1, 2027, the implementation of the Keystone
Exam shall cease.
* * *
(c) Notwithstanding section 2604-B(b)(2)(v), 22 Pa. Code §
4.24 or 4.51 or any statute or regulation to the contrary, in
any school year in which a demonstration of proficiency on a
Keystone Exam or ACT test is required for high school
graduation, a CTE Concentrator shall be deemed proficient
provided that the CTE Concentrator shall meet all of the
following requirements:
(1) completes locally established grade-based requirements
for academic content areas associated with each Keystone Exam or
20250HB0727PN0748 - 2 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30

ACT test on which the CTE Concentrator did not achieve
proficiency. For the purposes of this paragraph, completion of
grade-based requirements in any science and technology and
environment and ecology course shall satisfy the requirements
for the academic content area associated with the Keystone Exam
or ACT test in biology; and
* * *
(c.1) Notwithstanding section 2604-B(b)(2)(v), 22 Pa. Code §
4.24, 4.51 or 4.51c or any statute or regulation to the
contrary, in any school year in which a demonstration of
proficiency on a Keystone Exam or ACT test is required for high
school graduation, a student shall be deemed proficient if the
student demonstrates one of the following:
(1) Attainment of a satisfactory composite score under
subsection (c.2) on the Keystone Exams or ACT test in algebra I,
literature and biology.
(2) Successful completion of locally established, grade-
based requirements for academic content areas associated with
each Keystone Exam or ACT test on which the student did not
achieve at least a proficient score and demonstration of one of
the following:
* * *
(iii) Attainment of an established score on an Advanced
Placement Program exam in an academic content area associated
with each Keystone Exam or ACT test on which the student did not
achieve at least a proficient score.
(iv) Attainment of an established score on an International
Baccalaureate Diploma Program exam in an academic content area
associated with each Keystone Exam or ACT test on which the
student did not achieve at least a proficient score.
20250HB0727PN0748 - 3 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30

* * *
(3) Successful c