PRINTER'S NO. 3405
No. 2489 Session of 2000
INTRODUCED BY BISHOP, FRANKEL, PESCI, LAUGHLIN, EVANS, DALEY,
WATERS, BEBKO-JONES, YOUNGBLOOD, MELIO, LEDERER, HERMAN,
SOLOBAY, RAMOS, GEORGE, TIGUE, BELFANTI, BELARDI, HENNESSEY,
TRELLO AND M. COHEN, APRIL 19, 2000
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, APRIL 19, 2000
AN ACT
1 Amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), entitled "An
2 act relating to the public school system, including certain
3 provisions applicable as well to private and parochial
4 schools; amending, revising, consolidating and changing the
5 laws relating thereto," providing for violence programs.
6 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
7 hereby enacts as follows:
8 Section 1. The act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known
9 as the Public School Code of 1949, is amended by adding a
10 section to read:
11 Section 1550. Violence Program.--(a) Each public school
12 student shall receive mandatory instruction in prevention of
13 violence in society in general and in schools in particular in
14 every grade from kindergarten through grade twelve. The
15 instruction shall be integrated within the health course of
16 study required in accordance with the State Board of Education
17 regulations. In grades where health is offered, instruction may
18 also be integrated into other appropriate courses of study. In
1 grades where health is not offered, instruction shall be
2 integrated into an appropriate curriculum requirement.
3 (1) This instruction:
4 (i) Shall be age appropriate.
5 (ii) Shall be sequential in method of study.
6 (iii) Shall explain the causes of violence.
7 (iv) Shall espouse the rejection of violence in society in
8 general and in schools in particular.
9 (2) School districts may utilize any appropriate public or
10 private materials, personnel and other resources in developing
11 and implementing this program of instruction. The Pennsylvania
12 State Police shall make available information about appropriate
13 curriculum materials upon request of a school district.
14 (b) Each school district is authorized to develop and offer
15 instruction and discussion relating to this program for parents
16 of students enrolled in the public schools.
17 (c) The Department of Education shall develop curriculum
18 guidelines for this program.
19 (d) The Department of Education shall make available to all
20 school districts and intermediate units in-service training
21 programs based upon the instruction requirements established in
22 subsection (a) and the curriculum guidelines established in
23 subsection (c).
24 (e) Each school district shall provide, as part of its in-
25 service training, programs on violence for all instructors whose
26 teaching responsibilities include courses of study in which
27 mandated instruction concerning violence is integrated. To
28 comply with this requirement, a school district may utilize the
29 programs made available by the Department of Education or use
30 other alternative programs.
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1 (f) The governing board of each intermediate unit in which a
2 nonpublic school is located shall have the authority and the
3 duty to loan to all students attending nonpublic schools within
4 the intermediate unit all educational materials developed by the
5 Department of Education pursuant to this section. Local school
6 boards need not expend funds which are not provided by either
7 the Federal or State Government for the use or loan of these
8 materials. A nonpublic school may utilize the in-service
9 training programs made available by the Department of Education
10 through the intermediate unit.
11 Section 2. The addition of section 1550 of the act shall
12 apply to school years which begin after the effective date of
13 this act.
14 Section 3. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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