PRINTER'S NO. 1960
No. 1560 Session of 2007
INTRODUCED BY S. H. SMITH, REED, BAKER, CAPPELLI, GEORGE,
READSHAW, MARSHALL, KILLION, PAYNE, VEREB, SCAVELLO, ARGALL,
WATSON, FAIRCHILD, SOLOBAY, GODSHALL, McILHATTAN, SANTONI,
HERSHEY, MURT, HICKERNELL, SURRA, SAINATO, TRUE, THOMAS,
O'NEILL, PYLE, FLECK, MOYER, R. STEVENSON, DALEY, GEIST,
SONNEY, RAPP, REICHLEY, GINGRICH, PHILLIPS, MILNE, GIBBONS,
KORTZ, JAMES AND PALLONE, JUNE 18, 2007
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, JUNE 18, 2007
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," establishing the Look Toward Your
6 Future program; and further providing for Pennsylvania
7 accountability grants.
8 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
9 hereby enacts as follows:
10 Section 1. The act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known
11 as the Public School Code of 1949, is amended by adding an
12 article to read:
13 ARTICLE XV-F
14 LOOK TOWARD YOUR FUTURE PROGRAM
15 Section 1501-F. Establishment of program.
16 There is hereby established in the Department of Education
17 the Look Toward Your Future program. The program shall provide
18 competitive demonstration grants to school districts, area
1 vocational-technical schools, technical institutes or
2 intermediate units acting on behalf of a consortia of its member
3 districts, to establish career awareness programs to provide
4 students in grades seven through ten with a clearer
5 understanding of career opportunities available to them and the
6 preparation needed to obtain employment in those careers. By
7 acquainting students with the wide range of vocational options
8 open to them, it is anticipated that the program will also
9 encourage students to stay in school and graduate. Additionally,
10 the program will encourage the creation of partnerships with
11 local employers and the identification of careers with the
12 greatest need for employees in the future.
13 Section 1502-F. Definitions.
14 The following words and phrases when used in this article
15 shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
16 context clearly indicates otherwise:
17 "Career awareness program." An educational program that
18 introduces students to a variety of career and vocational
19 options and includes such activities as job shadowing, field
20 trips and tours, career days or the administration of career
21 assessment tests and inventories.
22 "Career days." Special events that allow students to meet
23 with employers, career development specialists, community-based
24 organization representatives and postsecondary educators, which
25 events are designed to encourage students to gain information
26 about careers and job opportunities.
27 "Department." The Department of Education of the
28 Commonwealth.
29 "Grant." A Look Toward Your Future program grant awarded
30 under this article.
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1 "Job shadowing." As part of career exploration activities in
2 late middle and early high school, activity of a student
3 following an employee for one or more days to learn about a
4 particular occupation or industry, which activity is intended to
5 help the student explore a range of career objectives and to
6 possibly select a career pathway.
7 "Program." The Look Toward Your Future program established
8 under section 1501-F.
9 "Rural school district." A public school district that has a
10 population of less than 300 per square mile. This term shall
11 also apply to an intermediate unit, area vocational-technical
12 school or technical institute if the composite data for all
13 participating school districts meet the criteria specified in
14 either paragraph (1) or (2).
15 "School entity." A public school district, area vocational-
16 technical school, technical institute or an intermediate unit
17 applying on behalf of its member districts.
18 "Urban school district." A public school district that has a
19 population greater than 850 per square mile. The term shall also
20 apply to an intermediate unit or area vocational-technical
21 school if the composite data for all participating school
22 districts meet the criteria specified in either paragraph (1) or
23 (2).
24 Section 1503-F. Program requirements.
25 A school entity shall apply annually for a grant to implement
26 the program in the school entity. At a minimum, the application
27 shall contain the following:
28 (1) Identification of the grade level or levels and
29 number of students to be included in the program.
30 (2) Identification of the person or persons who will
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1 have responsibility for establishing and monitoring the
2 program.
3 (3) Listing of the local employers and others with whom
4 the entity will partner in the establishment of its career
5 awareness program.
6 (4) A description of the program to be offered,
7 including:
8 (i) How the program will identify careers to be
9 highlighted.
10 (ii) How the program will integrate with other
11 curricular areas, work-based learning programs or
12 counseling activities offered by the school entity.
13 (iii) How the program will provide students with a
14 better understanding of the changing nature of careers
15 due to technological advances, the impact of a global
16 economy and the anticipation of the need for individuals
17 to change careers several times during their lifetimes.
18 (iv) How the program will assist the school entity
19 in meeting the State's Academic Standards for Career
20 Education and Work set forth under 22 Pa. Code Ch. 4
21 Appendix E (relating to Academic Standards for Career
22 Education and Work).
23 (v) The career information resources that will be
24 utilized.
25 (vi) A summary of any special experiential
26 activities to be included in the program, such as career
27 inventories, field trips and tours, job shadowing and
28 career days.
29 Section 1504-F. Grants.
30 (a) Demonstration sites.--
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1 (1) The department shall award program grants to ten
2 demonstration sites. These sites shall include: two rural
3 school districts, two urban school districts, one
4 intermediate unit applying on behalf of its member districts,
5 one area vocational-technical school, one technical institute
6 and three school districts that are not defined as either
7 rural or urban.
8 (2) The department shall assure to the greatest extent
9 possible that demonstration sites will be geographically
10 disbursed.
11 (b) Amount.--Grants shall be in the amount of $100,000 each.
12 Section 1505-F. Reports.
13 (a) Department.--Each school entity awarded a grant under
14 this article shall provide program and fiscal reports as
15 required by the department.
16 (b) General Assembly.--No later than October 1, 2008, and
17 each October 1 thereafter, the department shall prepare and
18 submit an annual report to the Education Committee of the Senate
19 and the Education Committee of the House of Representatives
20 regarding the administration and operation of the demonstration
21 sites created under the grant program. The report shall include:
22 (1) A listing of all school entities awarded grants
23 under the program.
24 (2) A description of each project, including: the number
25 of students and grade levels served, the employers and other
26 community partners participating in the project and a summary
27 of the types of activities funded under the program.
28 Section 1506-F. Limitations.
29 The amount of grants provided under this article in a given
30 fiscal year shall be limited to the funds appropriated for that
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1 purpose.
2 Section 2. Section 2599.2(b) of the act is amended by adding
3 a paragraph to read:
4 Section 2599.2. Pennsylvania Accountability Grants.--* * *
5 (b) The grant shall be used by a school district to attain
6 or maintain academic performance targets. Funds obtained under
7 this section may be used for any of the following:
8 * * *
9 (10.1) Establishing, expanding or maintaining a career
10 awareness program as defined in Article XV-F.
11 * * *
12 Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2007, or
13 immediately, whichever is later.
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