PRINTER'S NO. 1602
No. 1293 Session of 2003
INTRODUCED BY STURLA, MAY 5, 2003
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, MAY 5, 2003
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 an educational
6 assistance program.
7 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
8 hereby enacts as follows:
9 Section 1. The act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known
10 as the Public School Code of 1949, is amended by adding an
11 article to read:
12 ARTICLE XV-E
13 EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS
14 Section 1501-E. Tutoring programs.
15 (a) Establishment.--Each school district desiring to obtain
16 funds under Article XXV-B, shall establish school term and
17 summer tutoring programs to assist students in kindergarten
18 through 11th grade.
19 (b) Availability.--
1 (1) Tutoring shall be made available for a school year
2 to all students scoring below basic level of performance on
3 the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment tests under 22
4 Pa. Code Ch. 4 (relating to academic standards and
5 assessment) in math or reading for the previous school year.
6 (2) For grade levels in a school for which prior year
7 scores are not available the school district shall determine
8 which children shall receive tutoring, provided that:
9 (i) For grades kindergarten through fifth grade, the
10 number of students receiving tutoring shall not exceed
11 the percentage of students scoring below basic level of
12 performance on the fifth grade Pennsylvania System of
13 School Assessment test in the previous school year.
14 (ii) For grades six through eight, the number of
15 students receiving tutoring shall not exceed the
16 percentage of students scoring below basic level of
17 performance on the eighth grade Pennsylvania System of
18 School Assessment test in the previous school year.
19 (iii) For grades 9 through 12, the number of
20 students receiving tutoring shall not exceed the
21 percentage of students scoring below basic level of
22 performance of the 11th grade Pennsylvania System of
23 School Assessment test in the previous school year.
24 (c) Hours of operation.--Notwithstanding the provisions of
25 section 1502, tutoring programs may operate outside the normal
26 school day and hours of the school district, including mornings,
27 evenings and weekends.
28 (d) Class size; number of classes.--
29 (1) During the school term, no more than an average of
30 six students may be in a class within the tutoring program.
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1 (2) During the summer, no more than an average of 15
2 students may be in a class within the tutoring program.
3 (3) The school district shall offer a sufficient number
4 of classes to allow each student eligible for instruction
5 under this section to receive tutoring.
6 (e) Powers and duties of the Department of Education.--
7 (1) The department shall provide technical assistance to
8 assist school districts with establishing tutoring programs.
9 (2) The department shall provide reimbursement to school
10 districts at a level set by the department.
11 (3) The department shall establish guidelines for the
12 plans to be submitted by school districts for the amount of
13 funding to be distributed to them pursuant to this section.
14 (f) Relation to other provisions of law.--The provisions of
15 this section are supplemental to the provisions of Article XV-C.
16 Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2003, or
17 immediately, whichever is later.
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