PRINTER'S NO. 2303
No. 1725 Session of 2007
INTRODUCED BY STAIRS, FLECK, GEIST, HESS, JAMES, MELIO, MOYER,
PASHINSKI, RUBLEY, SCAVELLO, McILVAINE SMITH, SONNEY, STURLA,
THOMAS AND YOUNGBLOOD, JULY 13, 2007
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, JULY 13, 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," providing for advanced placement
6 courses; and making an appropriation.
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 a
11 section to read:
12 Section 1551. Advanced Placement Courses.--(a) (1) By the
13 2010-2011 school year, each school district shall maintain a
14 high school curriculum that includes no less than one (1)
15 optional advanced placement course in the core subject areas of
16 English, mathematics and science.
17 (2) Beginning with the 2008-2009 school year, each school
18 district may add one (1) advanced placement course in any of the
19 three (3) subject areas.
1 (b) (1) An advanced placement course shall be taught by a
2 professional educator trained at a College Board-endorsed
3 advanced placement summer training institute or online as
4 provided under subsection (g)(2). The professional educator
5 shall attend such training at least every five (5) years in
6 order to maintain the professional educator's eligibility to
7 teach the advanced placement course.
8 (2) Attendance at an advanced placement summer training
9 institute or online as provided in subsection (g)(2) shall count
10 toward compliance with the continuing professional education
11 requirements set forth under section 1205.2(a)(3) or (4).
12 (3) Any school that is unable to meet the stated deadlines
13 through no fault of its own may apply to the Secretary of
14 Education for a waiver to extend the time frame to meet the
15 requirement.
16 (c) The school district shall use in its advanced placement
17 courses syllabi approved and monitored by the College Board.
18 (d) The content offered in advanced placement courses shall
19 include information tested on advanced placement examinations
20 administered by the College Board.
21 (e) No student enrolled in an advanced placement course
22 shall be required to take an advanced placement examination
23 administered by the College Board.
24 (f) A school district may utilize funds made available by
25 the Commonwealth under the provisions of this bill to:
26 (1) Provide financial assistance to professional educators
27 for attendance at advanced placement summer training institutes.
28 (2) Contribute to and participate in a clearinghouse for the
29 collection and dissemination of syllabi to other high schools,
30 which shall be deemed reviewed and approved by the College
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1 Board.
2 (3) Pay the fee charged to students for taking advanced
3 placement examinations administered by the College Board,
4 provided that the students qualify for free or reduced-price
5 meals under the Federal school lunch and breakfast programs.
6 (4) Assist school districts that are unable to meet the
7 2010-2011 deadline for offering advanced placement courses, by
8 providing distance learning in the acquisition of advanced
9 placement courses.
10 (g) The Department of Education shall support the program
11 by:
12 (1) Providing technical assistance to high schools for
13 incorporating advanced placement syllabi and materials in the
14 course content and design.
15 (2) Collaborating with advanced placement summer training
16 institutes to offer online courses over the Internet to
17 professional educators who seek eligibility for teaching
18 advanced placement courses. The online courses shall utilize the
19 content of the advanced placement summer training institutes.
20 (3) Developing a clearinghouse for submission of high school
21 syllabi that meet the approval of the College Board.
22 (4) Disseminating, upon request, syllabi approved for use in
23 the advanced placement courses of high school English,
24 mathematics and science courses.
25 Section 2. The sum of $750,000 is hereby appropriated to the
26 Department of Education for the purpose of providing student
27 advanced placement examination assistance during the 2007-2008
28 school year as authorized under section 1551(f)(3) of the act.
29 Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2007, or
30 immediately, whichever is later.
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