Pennsylvania HB 819: An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in certification of teachers, further providing for continuing professional development; providing for access to rigorous courses of study for all students; establishing the Access to Rigorous Courses of Study for All Students Grant Program; and imposing duties on the Department of Education.

Bill Text

PRIOR PRINTER'S NO. 926 PRINTER'S NO. 987
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 819
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY MALAGARI, BELLMON, HILL-EVANS, GIRAL, MADDEN,
FREEMAN, SANCHEZ, GUENST AND CERRATO, MARCH 13, 2025
AS REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES, AS AMENDED, MARCH 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 certification of teachers, further
providing for continuing professional development; providing
for access to rigorous courses of study for all students;
establishing the Access to Rigorous Courses of Study for All
Students Grant Program; and imposing duties on the Department
of Education.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 1205.1(c.1)(3) of the act of March 10,
1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949,
is amended to read:
Section 1205.1. Continuing Professional Development.--* * *
(c.1) The continuing professional education plan shall
specify the professional education needs that will be met by
completion of each continuing professional education option and
how it relates to areas of assignment and certification or
potential administrative certification. The options may include,
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but shall not be limited to:
* * *
(3) Other programs, activities or learning experiences taken
for credit or hourly, to include:
(i) curriculum development and other program design and
delivery activities at the school entity or grade level as
determined by the school entity and approved by the board of
directors;
(ii) participation in professional conferences and
workshops;
(iii) education in the workplace, where the work relates to
the professional educator's area of assignment and is approved
by the board of directors;
(iv) review, redesign and restructuring of school programs,
organizations and functions as determined by the school entity
and approved by the board of directors;
(v) in-service programs that comply with guidelines
established by the department;
(vi) early childhood and child development activities for
professional educators whose area of assignment includes
kindergarten through third grade;
(vii) special education activities for professional
educators whose area of assignment includes students with
special needs;
(viii) successful completion of department training for
service as a Distinguished Educator if the professional educator
participates in and completes at least one assignment in the
Distinguished Educators Program;
(ix) other continuing professional education courses,
programs, activities or learning experiences sponsored by the
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department; [or]
(x) visits by educators to a manufacturing workplace for
orientation and demonstrations to give the professional educator
a greater understanding of job opportunities in manufacturing
for students[.]; or
(xi) providing opportunities for educators to serve as
rigorous course of study coaches to support teachers in
delivering high-quality rigorous courses of study. For the
purposes of this subparagraph, the term "rigorous course of
study" shall have the same meaning as in section 1702-E.
* * *
Section 2. The act is amended by adding an article to read:
ARTICLE XVII-E
ACCESS TO RIGOROUS COURSES OF STUDY FOR ALL STUDENTS
Section 1701-E. Scope of article.
This article relates to access to rigorous courses of study
for all students.
Section 1702-E. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this article
shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Core academic areas." Mathematics, English language arts,
science, social studies and computer science.
"Department." The Department of Education of the
Commonwealth.
"Educator." A "professional employe," "temporary
professional employe" or "substitute" as those terms are defined
in section 1101.
"Educator training entity." An institution of higher
education, intermediate unit or other organization approved by
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the department to train educators to teach rigorous courses of
study.
"Eligible educator." An educator who is certified in the
subject area of the rigorous course of study that the educator
will be teaching.
"Eligible school entity." A school entity that does not meet
the minimum benchmarks for rigorous course of study offerings
established by the department under section 1703-E(c)(2)(i) or
is unable to offer a rigorous course of study due to the
retirement, departure or other loss of an educator who teaches a
rigor