PRINTER'S NO. 657
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No.645
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY LANGERHOLC, CULVER, ROTHMAN, J. WARD, LAUGHLIN,
BROWN, MASTRIANO, PENNYCUICK, VOGEL AND STEFANO,
APRIL 21, 2025
REFERRED TO EDUCATION, APRIL 21, 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; in terms and courses of study,
further providing for subjects of instruction and flag code
and providing for handwriting instruction required; and, in
charter schools, further providing for provisions applicable
to charter schools and for applicability of other provisions
of this act and of other acts and regulations.
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:
* * *
"Cursive handwriting." A style of penmanship in which the
symbols of the language are written in a conjoined or flowing
manner often with the strokes of successive characters joined
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22 and the angles rounded.
* * *
Section 2. Section 1511 of the act is amended to read:
Section 1511. Subjects of Instruction; Flag Code.--In every
elementary public and private school, established and maintained
in this Commonwealth, the following subjects shall be taught, in
the English language and from English texts: English, including
spelling, reading and writing, which shall include cursive
handwriting, arithmetic, geography, the history of the United
States and of Pennsylvania, civics, including loyalty to the
State and National Government, safety education, and the humane
treatment of birds and animals, health, including physical
education, and physiology, music and art. Other subjects shall
be taught in the public elementary schools and also in the
public high schools as may be prescribed by the standards of the
State Board of Education. All such subjects, except foreign
languages, shall be taught in the English language and from
English texts: Provided, however, That, at the discretion of the
[Superintendent of Public Instruction ] Secretary of Education ,
the teaching of subjects in a language other than English may be
permitted as part of a sequence in foreign language study or as
part of a bilingual education program if the teaching personnel
are properly certified in the subject fields. Each school
district shall provide and distribute to each pupil, enrolled in
the eighth grade of the public schools, one illustrated copy of
the National Flag Code, and shall, from time to time, make
available such copies as are necessary for replacements from
year to year. It shall be the duty of each teacher in the public
schools to make such use of the code as may, from time to time,
seem proper.
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30 Section 3. The act is amended by adding a section to read:
Section 1529. Handwriting Instruction Required.--Each
student shall receive cursive handwriting instruction to ensure
that students have the ability to read and write cursive
handwriting by the end of fifth grade.
Section 4. Section 1732-A(a) of the act is amended to read:
Section 1732-A. Provisions Applicable to Charter Schools.--
(a) Charter schools shall be subject to the following:
Sections 108, 110, 111, 321, 325, 326, 327, 431, 436, 443,
510, 518, 527, 708, 736, 737, 738, 739, 740, 741, 752, 753, 755,
771, 776, 777, 808, 809, 810, 1109, 1111, 1112(a), 1301, 1310,
1317, 1317.1, 1317.2, 1318, 1326, 1327, 1327.2, 1329, 1330,
1332, 1333, 1333.1, 1333.2, 1333.3, 1303-A, 1513, 1517, 1518,
1521, 1523, 1529, 1531, 1547, 2014-A, Article XIII-A and Article
XIV.
Act of July 17, 1961 (P.L.776, No.341), known as the
"Pennsylvania Fair Educational Opportunities Act."
Act of July 19, 1965 (P.L.215, No.116), entitled "An act
providing for the use of eye protective devices by persons
engaged in hazardous activities or exposed to known dangers in
schools, colleges and universities."
Section 4 of the act of January 25, 1966 (1965 P.L.1546,
No.541), entitled "An act providing scholarships and providing
funds to secure Federal funds for qualified students of the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania who need financial assistance to
attend postsecondary institutions of higher learning, making an
appropriation, and providing for the administration of this
act."
Act of July 12, 1972 (P.L.765, No.181), entitled "An act
relating to drugs and alcohol and their abuse, providing for
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30 projects and programs and grants to educational agencies, other
public or private agencies, institutions or organizations."
Act of December 15, 1986 (P.L.1595, No.175), known as the
"Antihazing Law."
* * *
Section 5. Section 1749-A(a)(1) of the act, reenacted and
amended October 31, 2024 (P.L.1129, No.135), is amended by
adding a subparagraph to read:
Section 1749-A. Applicability of other provisions of this act
and of other acts and regulations.
(a) General requirements.--Cyber charter schools shall be
subject to the following:
(1) The following:
* * *
(liii.1) Section 1529.
* * *
Section 6. This act shall take effect July 1, 2025.
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