Pennsylvania 2023-2024 Regular Session

Pennsylvania House Bill HB659

Introduced
3/21/23  

Caption

In school finances, further providing for distress in school districts of the first class; in grounds and buildings, further providing for public hearing prior to closing school; and, in pupils and attendance, providing for conditions for closing schools.

Impact

If enacted, HB 659 would bring significant changes to the way school closures are handled in the state. It emphasizes the need for public hearings, ensuring that stakeholders—including parents, teachers, and community members—have a voice in discussions about school closures. This provision is intended to provide a buffer against abrupt decisions that may adversely affect students and communities, particularly in districts that face financial distress. The bill aims to create a more structured and transparent process for evaluating school operations.

Summary

House Bill 659 focuses on provisions regarding school finances, particularly addressing issues related to the distress experienced by first-class school districts. The bill proposes measures that would further stipulate the conditions under which schools may be closed, alongside ensuring that public hearings are conducted prior to any closures. This initiative aims to safeguard educational institutions by increasing transparency and community involvement in the decision-making process regarding school operations.

Sentiment

The sentiment surrounding HB 659 appears to be generally positive among education advocates and community members who appreciate the increased focus on transparency and accountability. However, there are concerns regarding the practical implications of the additional requirements for public hearings, such as potential delays in necessary closures due to bureaucratic processes. Advocates argue that the bill effectively addresses community needs, while some critics raise questions about the feasibility of implementation, particularly in financially struggling districts.

Contention

A notable point of contention is the balance between the need for oversight in school closure decisions and the urgency that often accompanies such decisions, especially in districts facing imminent financial crises. Critics suggest that mandatory public hearings could lead to delays that hinder timely responses to critical funding issues. Proponents counter that community involvement is essential for fostering local trust and ensuring that all voices are heard in decisions that could have lasting impacts on students and families.

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

PA HB1076

In pupils and attendance, providing for school building closure requirements.

PA HB2024

In duties and powers of boards of school directors, further providing for school athletics, publications, and organizations; in grounds and buildings, further providing for water-closets or out-houses and providing for bathroom and athletic facilities for transgender students; and, in school health services, further providing for examinations of school buildings and grounds.

PA HB1616

In pupils and attendance, further providing for possession of weapons prohibited; and, in safe schools, further providing for sworn statement and for transfer of records.

PA HB663

In pupils and attendance, further providing for residence and right to free school privileges.

PA HB2180

In pupils and attendance, further providing for Nonprofit School Food Program and providing for School Meal Debt Fund; and making appropriations.

PA HB301

In preliminary provisions, further providing for special provisions applicable to limited school years; in duties and powers of board of school directors, further providing for additional schools and departments; in grounds and buildings, further providing for limitation on new applications for Department of Education approval of public school building projects; in school directors' associations and county boards of school directors, further providing for powers and duties; in intermediate units, further providing for visual services and for school safety and security enhancements; in certification of teachers, further providing for substitute teaching permit for prospective teachers and for locally issued temporary certification for substitute teachers, repealing provisions relating to permit for classroom monitors and providing for permit for classroom monitors; providing for the Educator Pipeline Support Grant Program; in pupils and attendance, further providing for compulsory education of physical defectives, for school lunch and breakfast reimbursement, for dependent children, for actual cost of tuition and maintenance of certain exceptional children in the four chartered schools for education of the deaf and the blind, for payment of cost of tuition and maintenance of certain exceptional children, for transfer of funds for transferal programs and for children under six with defective hearing and parent or guardian advised of schools, etc.; in safe schools, further providing for definitions and for Office for Safe Schools, repealing provisions relating to regulations and to reporting, further providing for policy relating to bullying and for maintenance of records and repealing provisions relating to Safe Schools Advocate in School Districts of the First Class, to standing, to enforcement and to construction of article and other laws; in school safety and security, further providing for definitions and for school safety and security committee, providing for duties of committee, further providing for School Safety and Security Grant Program, providing for Targeted School Safety Grants for Nonpublic Schools and School Entities Program, for standardized protocols, for county safe schools' collaborative and for school mental health grants for 2023-2024 school year, further providing for school safety and security coordinator training and providing for reporting and memorandum of understanding, for safe schools advocate in school districts of the first class and for enforcement; in school security, further providing for definitions, for school police officers, for annual report and for school security guards; in character education program, further providing for character education program; in community colleges, further providing for financial program and reimbursement of payments; in educational tax credits, further providing for definitions, for qualification and application by organizations and for limitations; in school districts of the first class, further providing for qualifications of principals and teachers; in funding for public libraries, providing for State aid for fiscal year 2023-2024; in reimbursements by Commonwealth and between school districts, further providing for definitions and for payments on account of pupils enrolled in career and technical curriculums, for payments on account of courses for exceptional children, for payments to intermediate units, for assistance to school districts declared to be in financial recovery status or identified for financial watch status, for payments, for payments on account of pupil transportation, for Ready-to-Learn Block Grant and for payment of required contribution for public school employees' Social Security; in construction and renovation of buildings by school entities, further providing for applicability; providing for School Environmental Repairs Program; and making an editorial change.

PA SB337

In charter schools, further providing for funding for charter schools.

PA SB799

In charter schools, further providing for funding for charter schools.

PA HB1708

In preliminary provisions, further providing for definitions; in pupils and attendance, providing for educational oversight for students in facilities, further providing for possession of weapons prohibited and providing for school stability for certain students; in safe schools, further providing for definitions and for reporting and establishing the School-Based Diversion Programs Fund; in school security, further providing for powers and duties and providing for limitations on proceedings and arrest; and, in school districts of the first class, repealing provisions relating to placement of certain adjudicated students.

PA HB1519

In pupils and attendance, further providing for excuses from attending school.

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