PRINTER'S NO. 181
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.228
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY GLEIM, HAMM, LEADBETER, KAUFFMAN AND ZIMMERMAN,
JANUARY 22, 2025
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, JANUARY 22, 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 the State Board of Education,
further providing for definitions and providing for academic
standards review; and making editorial changes .
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 2601-B(2) of the act of March 10, 1949
(P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, is
amended and the section is amended by adding a paragraph to
read:
Section 2601-B. Definitions.--When used in this article the
following words and phrases shall have the following meanings:
* * *
(2) "State Board of Education" shall mean the entity known
as the State Board of Education and placed within, and made a
departmental administrative board of, the [ Department of
Education] department by section 202 of the act of April 9, 1929
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20 (P.L.177, No.175), known as "The Administrative Code of 1929."
(3) "Department" shall mean the Department of Education of
the Commonwealth.
Section 2. Sections 2602-B(f), 2603-B(b) and 2606-B of the
act are amended to read:
Section 2602-B. Membership.--* * *
(f) Except for the chairman, not more than two (2) members
serving on each council shall be employed either in a school
system or in the [Department of Education ] department. For
purposes of this subsection, the State System of Higher
Education shall not be considered a school system. Three (3)
members of the Council of Higher Education shall be actively
employed by an institution of higher education, at least one
holding an administrative position and at least one holding a
professional position on a faculty of an institution of higher
education. At least two (2) members serving on each council
shall have had previous experience with career and technical
education or training.
* * *
Section 2603-B. Powers and Duties of the Board.--* * *
(b) The board and the Secretary of Education shall jointly
employ and fix the compensation of such staff as it deems
necessary to perform the duties of the board. The board shall be
entitled to legal counsel which shall be designated by the
Office of General Counsel, which legal counsel shall not also be
legal counsel to the [ Department of Education ] department.
* * *
Section 2606-B. Cooperation Between the Board and the
Department [of Education].--Statements of policy, standards,
rules and regulations promulgated by the board shall be binding
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30 upon the [Department of Education ] department. The department
shall submit to the board for approval, modification or
rejection, all rules and regulations proposed by the department
in the areas under the control of the board. The [ Department of
Education] department shall furnish upon request of the board
such data and information as the board may, from time to time,
require, and the department shall provide administrative
services for and on behalf of the board for the implementation
of the board's statements of policy, standards, rules and
regulations.
Section 3. The act is amended by adding a section to read:
Section 2607-B. Academic Standards Review.--(a) The board
shall, within ninety (90) days of the effective date of this
section, establish a schedule for the review of all academic
standards under 22 Pa. Code Ch. 4 (relating to academic
standards and assessment). The schedule shall ensure that State
academic standards for each content area are reviewed by the
board at least every three (3) years.
(b) The review by the board shall determine if the State
academic standards for each content area are age appropriate,
clear, industry specific, academically challenging and meet the
needs of the job market. The board shall make revisions to the
State academic standards by regulation as necessary.
(c) The board shall submit a report of a review made under
this section to the chairperson and minority chairperson of the
Education Committee of the Senate and the chairperson and
minority chairperson of the Education Committee of the House of
Representatives. The report shall include the following
contents:
(1) A list of all updates and revisions to the State
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30 academic standards for each specific content area.
(2) The purpose for all updates and revisions to State
academic standards or if, upon review, the board determines the
academic standards for a content area do not require updates or
revisions, an explanation for the continuation of current
academic standards.
(3) A list of stakeholders involved in the review process.
(4) The title and citation of any applicable frameworks and
guidelines from outside organizations utilized in the
development of the updated State academic standards.
(5) The time frame for the implementation of the updated
State academic standards.
(d) The General Assembly may direct the board to conduct a
review of the State academic standards under this section by
adoption of a concurrent resolution.
(e) This section shall not be construed to change any
requirement under the act of June 25, 1982 (P.L.633, No.181),
known as the "Regulatory Review Act."
Section 4. This act shall take effect immediately.
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