See other bills
under the
same topic
        PRIOR PRINTER'S NOS. 3628, 3781, 4333         PRINTER'S NO. 4419

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA


HOUSE BILL

No. 2466 Session of 2008


        INTRODUCED BY ROEBUCK, McILVAINE SMITH, HARKINS, GRUCELA, MILNE,
           RAPP, BELFANTI, BISHOP, BLACKWELL, BRENNAN, CALTAGIRONE,
           FRANKEL, GEORGE, HARPER, HENNESSEY, HERSHEY, JAMES, JOSEPHS,
           MAHONEY, MANN, MYERS, M. O'BRIEN, PARKER, READSHAW, SIPTROTH,
           K. SMITH, STEIL, SURRA, THOMAS, WILLIAMS, YOUNGBLOOD AND
           MURT, APRIL 15, 2008

        AS AMENDED ON SECOND CONSIDERATION, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
           SEPTEMBER 23, 2008

                                     AN ACT

     1  Establishing and providing for the powers and duties of the       <--
     2     Office PROVIDING for Drop-out Prevention and Data Collection   <--
     3     in the Department of Education; and providing for grant
     4     funding for drop-out prevention plans and drop-out recovery
     5     programs.

     6                         TABLE OF CONTENTS
     7  Chapter 1.  Preliminary Provisions
     8  Section 101.  Short title.
     9  Section 102.  Findings.
    10  Section 103.  Definitions.
    11  Chapter 3.  Office for Drop-out Prevention and Data Collection    <--
    12  Section 301.  Establishment POWERS AND DUTIES.                    <--
    13  Section 302.  Powers and duties.                                  <--
    14  Section 303 302.  Data collection and reporting.                  <--
    15  Chapter 5.  Drop-out Prevention Plan and Drop-out Recovery
    16                 Programs Grants
    17  Section 501.  Drop-out Prevention Grant Program.

     1  Section 502.  Drop-out recovery grant program.
     2  Section 503.  Grant applications.
     3  Section 504.  Grant coordinator.
     4  Section 505.  Individual graduation plans.
     5  Section 506.  Technical assistance.
     6  Section 507.  Priority funding.
     7  Chapter 7.  Administration
     8  Section 701.  Reporting.
     9  Chapter 11.  Miscellaneous Provisions
    10  Section 1101.  Individualized education program.
    11  Section 1102.  Effective date.
    12     The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
    13  hereby enacts as follows:
    14                             CHAPTER 1
    15                       PRELIMINARY PROVISIONS
    16  Section 101.  Short title.
    17     This act shall be known and may be cited as the Drop-out
    18  Prevention and Data Collection Act.
    19  Section 102.  Findings.
    20     The General Assembly finds and declares as follows:
    21         (1)  Significant discrepancies in school district
    22     reporting, drop-out statistics and graduation rate formulas
    23     exist nationwide.
    24         (2)  The United States Secretary of Education recently
    25     announced that the United States Department of Education will
    26     require all states to use a Federal formula for the
    27     calculation of drop-out and graduation rates.
    28         (3)  The Pennsylvania Department of Education's
    29     statistics between the 1995-1996 and 2005-2006 school years
    30     show that drop-out rates in this Commonwealth may have
    20080H2466B4419                  - 2 -     

     1     decreased Statewide, but serious questions exist regarding
     2     the uniformity in reporting, and therefore, the reliability
     3     of that data.
     4         (4)  Research indicates that students who drop out of
     5     school are likely to earn far less money throughout their
     6     lives than college or high school graduates and experience
     7     teen pregnancy, substance abuse, crime and incarceration.
     8         (5)  This Commonwealth must be prepared to prioritize
     9     drop-out prevention in light of a forthcoming Federal drop-
    10     out rate formula for all school districts that could provide
    11     this Commonwealth with more accurate data on the number of
    12     dropouts per year in this Commonwealth.
    13         (6)  The Commonwealth should take proactive steps to help
    14     students stay engaged and on track for graduation from high
    15     school.
    16         (7)  School districts need additional resources and
    17     strategies to help establish and sustain programming to
    18     reduce the number of dropouts.
    19  Section 103.  Definitions.
    20     The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
    21  have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
    22  context clearly indicates otherwise:
    23     "Accelerated high school."  A high school allowing at-risk
    24  students to accelerate their graduation dates through flexible
    25  scheduling and for-credit innovative programs and courses taught
    26  by certified teachers and professionals who are experts in their
    27  fields.
    28     "Alternative education program."  An educational program that
    29  promotes the advancement of the academic needs of at-risk
    30  students and students unsuccessful in a traditional educational
    20080H2466B4419                  - 3 -     

     1  environment, including, but not limited to, transfer high
     2  schools, accelerated high schools, middle college high schools,
     3  General Educational Development (GED) programs and other
     4  programs approved by the office DEPARTMENT.                       <--
     5     "At-risk student."  A student enrolled in a public school
     6  district who is at risk of dropping out as indicated by at least
     7  one of the following criteria:
     8         (1)  A past record of irregular attendance.
     9         (2)  A past record of underachievement in which the
    10     student is at least one year behind the coursework for the
    11     respective grade level.
    12         (3)  A past record of low motivation or disinterest in
    13     the educational program.
    14         (4)  A history of discipline or behavioral problems.
    15         (5)  A disadvantaged socioeconomic background.
    16         (6)  A lack of parental or adult support.
    17         (7)  Other factors affecting school performance,
    18     including, but not limited to, teenage pregnancy or
    19     parenting, residence in a homeless shelter or temporary
    20     living arrangement, substance abuse, child abuse or neglect,
    21     or limited English proficiency.
    22     "Career and technical school."  Any public or private
    23  postsecondary school that provides a form of education of less
    24  than college grade, given in school or elsewhere, the purpose of
    25  which is to assist an individual to effectively pursue
    26  recognized profitable employment, whether for wages or
    27  otherwise.
    28     "Charter school."  The term shall have the same meaning as in
    29  section 1703-A of the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14),
    30  known as the Public School Code of 1949.
    20080H2466B4419                  - 4 -     

     1     "Cyber charter school."  The term shall have the same meaning
     2  as in section 1703-A of act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14),
     3  known as the Public School Code of 1949.
     4     "Community partner."  Any of the following:
     5         (1)  Nonprofit community-based organization.
     6         (2)  Workforce investment board.
     7         (3)  Youth council.
     8         (4)  Institution of higher education.
     9         (5)  Career and technical school.
    10         (6)  Alternative education program.
    11         (7)  Employer or nonprofit business organization.
    12         (8)  Nonprofit community and economic development
    13     organization.
    14         (9)  Other Department of Education-approved community or
    15     regional organization.
    16     "Department."  The Department of Education of the
    17  Commonwealth.
    18     "Drop-out prevention plan."  A plan that uses evidence or
    19  research-based strategies to offer alternative measures to
    20  encourage students to remain in school and obtain a high school
    21  diploma and transition into postsecondary education or career
    22  training.
    23     "Drop-out recovery program."  A program that uses evidence or
    24  research-based strategies to reach out to those individuals who
    25  drop out of school prior to completion of a public school's
    26  academic program and offer them alternatives to obtaining their
    27  high school diplomas or passing the General Educational
    28  Development (GED) test battery.
    29     "Early warning system."  A research-based system designed and
    30  established by the Department of Education and made available to
    20080H2466B4419                  - 5 -     

     1  school entities at no cost for use to help identify at-risk
     2  students.
     3     "General Educational Development test battery" or "GED test
     4  battery."  A battery of five tests which, when passed, certifies
     5  that the taker has American-level academic skills.
     6     "Graduation gap."  The percentage of students who entered the
     7  ninth grade and did not graduate from the same high school in
     8  the same district four years later.
     9     "Institution of higher education."  Any public or private
    10  two-year, four-year or higher postsecondary institution in this
    11  Commonwealth that has been accredited at the college level by an
    12  accrediting agency recognized by the Secretary of Education.
    13     "Learning-to-work program."  A supervised educational program
    14  offered by a school district that incorporates practical work
    15  experience and academic study. This term shall include
    16  cooperative vocational programs.
    17     "Middle college high school."  A small high school located on  <--
    18  or adjacent to a two-year or four-year college, thereby
    19  providing students the opportunity to take college courses and
    20  high school classes at the same time, which serves students who
    21  are academically able but underachieving and disengaged and may
    22  have a high absenteeism rate, designed to fill a gap in current
    23  educational offerings in a county and serve a student population
    24  that is struggling in the traditional educational system. A       <--
    25  SCHOOL WHICH OFFERS A MIDDLE COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAM AS
    26  DEFINED IN SECTION 1602-B OF THE ACT OF MARCH 10, 1949 (P.L.30,
    27  NO.14), KNOWN AS THE PUBLIC SCHOOL CODE OF 1949.
    28     "Nonprofit community-based organization."  A public or
    29  private nonprofit organization, governed by a community-based
    30  board of directors, which serves to provide access to
    20080H2466B4419                  - 6 -     

     1  educational and training resources or related services to
     2  individuals in the community.
     3     "Office."  The Office for Drop-out Prevention and Data         <--
     4  Collection established by this act.
     5     "School district."  The term shall have the same meaning as
     6  in section 102 of the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14),
     7  known as the Public School Code of 1949.
     8     "School entity."  The term shall have the same meaning as in
     9  section 1101-A of the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14),
    10  known as the Public School Code of 1949.
    11     "Secretary."  The Secretary of Education of the Commonwealth.  <--
    12     "Service learning programs."  Teaching methods that combine
    13  meaningful service to community with curriculum-based learning
    14  through which students improve their academic skills by applying
    15  what they learn in school to the real world and then reflect on
    16  their experiences to reinforce the link between their service
    17  and their learning.
    18     "Transfer high school."  A small, full-time high school
    19  operated by a school district or institution of higher education
    20  and designed to reengage students who exceed the age limitation
    21  in section 1301 of the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14),
    22  known as the Public School Code of 1949, or have dropped out of
    23  high school. The essential elements of transfer high schools
    24  include:
    25         (1)  A personalized learning environment.
    26         (2)  Rigorous academic standards in accordance with 22
    27     Pa. Code Ch. 4 (relating to academic standards and
    28     assessment).
    29         (3)  Student-centered pedagogy.
    30         (4)  Support to meet instructional and developmental
    20080H2466B4419                  - 7 -     

     1     goals.
     2         (5)  A focus on connections to postsecondary education or
     3     careers.
     4     "Youth council."  Locally sponsored youth education and
     5  development programs that use community volunteers who become
     6  mentors to teach adolescents how to work within their local
     7  political system.
     8                             CHAPTER 3
     9                   OFFICE FOR DROP-OUT PREVENTION                   <--
    10                        AND DATA COLLECTION
    11  Section 301.  Establishment.                                      <--
    12     There is hereby established in the department the Office for
    13  Drop-out Prevention and Data Collection.
    14  Section 302 301.  Powers and duties.                              <--
    15     The office DEPARTMENT shall have the following powers and      <--
    16  duties:
    17         (1)  To create by the 2009-2010 school year a Statewide
    18     definition of "dropout," if none is provided by Federal
    19     statute, regulation or guideline and, in accordance with any
    20     Federal statute, regulation or guideline, report the
    21     graduation rates, drop-out rates and graduation-gap rates in
    22     this Commonwealth.
    23         (2)  To implement and maintain a high-quality data
    24     collection and reporting system that accurately accounts for
    25     all students when calculating high school graduation and
    26     drop-out rates in accordance with Federal regulations or
    27     guidelines. The reporting system shall include the
    28     calculation of graduation rates, drop-out rates and the
    29     graduation-gap rates in all school entities, charter schools
    30     and cyber charter schools.
    20080H2466B4419                  - 8 -     

     1         (3)  To ensure that all school districts are provided      <--
     2     with tools and sufficient funding for accurate reporting of
     3     graduation and drop-out data.
     4         (4) (3)  To increase coordination and collaboration among  <--
     5     nonprofit, community-based organizations, school entities,
     6     businesses, institutions of higher education and parents in
     7     order to help lower the drop-out rate.
     8         (5) (4)  To increase efforts to reengage those             <--
     9     individuals who previously dropped out and those who are
    10     considering dropping out, and to encourage those individuals
    11     who drop out to reenroll in secondary school and complete
    12     educational programs in order to receive a diploma or its
    13     equivalent.
    14         (6) (5)  To serve as a clearinghouse of information,       <--
    15     policies and strategies aimed at decreasing the number of
    16     dropouts and aiding school districts in the development of
    17     drop-out prevention plans.
    18         (7) (6)  To provide information, policies and strategies   <--
    19     for school entities and community partners aimed at
    20     establishing and maintaining drop-out recovery programs.
    21         (8) (7)  To distribute grants in accordance with the       <--
    22     requirements of this act to school districts and community
    23     partners that apply for and are approved to receive a drop-
    24     out prevention plan or drop-out recovery grant TO THE EXTENT   <--
    25     THAT FUNDS ARE APPROPRIATED FOR THIS PURPOSE.
    26         (9) (8)  To require school entities, charter schools and   <--
    27     cyber charter schools to report student drop-out information
    28     to the department using the offices' DEPARTMENT'S data         <--
    29     collection system.
    30  Section 303 302.  Data collection and reporting.                  <--
    20080H2466B4419                  - 9 -     

     1     (a)  Categories.--Pursuant to section 302 301, data collected  <--
     2  by the office DEPARTMENT on drop-out, graduation and graduation-  <--
     3  gap rates shall be disaggregated in the following categories:
     4         (1)  Limited English proficiency.
     5         (2)  Low income.
     6         (3)  Special education.
     7         (4)  Gifted education.
     8         (5)  Race/ethnicity.
     9         (6)  School entity.
    10         (7)  Charter school or cyber charter school.
    11         (8)  Gender.
    12         (9)  Geographic area.
    13         (10)  Other categories as determined by the office         <--
    14     DEPARTMENT.                                                    <--
    15     (b)  Availability.--The office DEPARTMENT shall ensure that    <--
    16  the data collection and reporting system be accurate, uniform
    17  and accessible to school entities, charter schools, cyber
    18  charter schools and Commonwealth residents via the department's
    19  publicly accessible Internet website.
    20                             CHAPTER 5
    21                    DROP-OUT PREVENTION PLAN AND
    22                 DROP-OUT RECOVERY PROGRAMS GRANTS
    23  Section 501.  Drop-out Prevention Grant Program.
    24     (a)  Establishment.--The office DEPARTMENT shall establish     <--
    25  and administer a drop-out prevention plan grant program pursuant
    26  to the requirements of section 302 with moneys 301 TO THE EXTENT  <--
    27  THAT FUNDS ARE appropriated by the General Assembly FOR THIS      <--
    28  PURPOSE.
    29     (b)  Drop-out prevention grant use.--A school district,
    30  working in conjunction with a community partner, that receives a
    20080H2466B4419                 - 10 -     

     1  drop-out prevention grant pursuant to the requirements of this
     2  act, shall use the grant to establish, develop or maintain drop-
     3  out prevention programs or strategies, including, but not
     4  limited to, the following:
     5         (1)  Hire necessary personnel to implement or maintain an
     6     early warning system to identify at-risk students or students
     7     unlikely to graduate on time from high school without
     8     receiving school-based support.
     9         (2)  Implement an intervention strategy within school
    10     districts with drop-out rates above the State average with
    11     support programs and awareness activities to inform all
    12     students in middle and high school of the characteristics of
    13     at-risk students and the future impact of an individual's not
    14     receiving a diploma.
    15         (3)  Implement student interventions for those
    16     individuals who present two or more characteristics of an at-
    17     risk student. Intervention strategies shall include, but
    18     shall not be limited to, intensive academic remediation,
    19     summer transition programs and academic support for students
    20     during and beyond the first ninth-grade marking period.
    21         (4)  Provide intensive academic support for those
    22     students exhibiting more than two of the characteristics of
    23     an at-risk student and in need of immediate drop-out
    24     prevention assistance, including, but not limited to,
    25     learning-to-work opportunities that offer career exploration,
    26     service learning opportunities, entrepreneurial experiences
    27     and other drop-out prevention strategies approved by the
    28     office DEPARTMENT that bring relevance to academic subject     <--
    29     areas.
    30         (5)  Offer alternative methods for at-risk students to
    20080H2466B4419                 - 11 -     

     1     obtain a high school diploma or to pass the GED test battery,
     2     which may include, but shall not be limited to, virtual or
     3     online education programs established, sponsored or made
     4     available by at-risk students' resident school districts.
     5         (6)  Provide at-risk students with exposure to
     6     postsecondary education, career exploration, work preparation
     7     and skills development, and facilitate financial aid
     8     counseling for postsecondary education.
     9         (7)  Provide other drop-out prevention activities,
    10     strategies or plans approved by the office DEPARTMENT, which   <--
    11     may include, but shall not be limited to, innovative or pilot
    12     drop-out prevention plans currently in use or proposed by a
    13     school district or a community partner.
    14  Section 502.  Drop-out recovery grant program.
    15     (a)  Establishment.--The office DEPARTMENT shall establish     <--
    16  and administer a drop-out recovery grant program pursuant to
    17  section 302 with moneys 301 TO THE EXTENT THAT FUNDS ARE          <--
    18  appropriated by the General Assembly FOR THIS PURPOSE.            <--
    19     (b)  Grant use.--A community partner, working in conjunction
    20  with a school district, that receives a drop-out recovery grant
    21  pursuant to the requirements of this act, shall use the grant to
    22  establish, develop or maintain evidence or research-based, drop-
    23  out recovery programs and strategies. Programs and strategies
    24  shall include, but shall not be limited to, the following:
    25         (1)  Provide outreach and educational options to dropouts
    26     through a locally or regionally based community collaboration
    27     between a school district and a community partner.
    28         (2)  Hire individuals who seek out, recruit and work to
    29     reengage dropouts for placement into alternative educational
    30     programming.
    20080H2466B4419                 - 12 -     

     1         (3)  Implement programs for young people whose literacy
     2     and numeracy levels are too low for them to participate
     3     meaningfully in formal educational programming.
     4         (4)  Provide learning-to-work programs that offer in-
     5     depth job readiness and career exploration, including
     6     academic support, work preparation, skills development,
     7     internships and entrepreneurial experiences designed to
     8     enhance the academic component of alternative education
     9     programs.
    10         (5)  Provide occupational preparation programs that offer
    11     dropouts or those individuals returning from delinquent
    12     placement, or both, with approved career technical education
    13     in high-demand occupations.
    14         (6)  Provide postsecondary education exposure and
    15     facilitate financial aid counseling for dropouts who seek to
    16     participate in postsecondary education or job training.
    17         (7)  Provide other activities, strategies or programs
    18     approved by the office DEPARTMENT, which may include           <--
    19     innovative or drop-out recovery pilot programs currently in
    20     use or proposed by a community partner or a school district.
    21  Section 503.  Grant applications.
    22     (a)  Office DEPARTMENT responsibilities.--The office TO THE    <--
    23  EXTENT FUNDS ARE APPROPRIATED FOR THESE PURPOSES, THE DEPARTMENT
    24  shall develop two separate grant applications for drop-out
    25  prevention plans and drop-out recovery programs. The office       <--
    26  DEPARTMENT shall make the applications available to school        <--
    27  districts and community partners on the department's publicly
    28  accessible Internet website. The office DEPARTMENT shall          <--
    29  annually review all grant applications for approval and
    30  distribute grants to selected school districts and community
    20080H2466B4419                 - 13 -     

     1  partners no later than October 1 of each year.
     2     (b)  Application for drop-out prevention plan grants.--A
     3  school district shall submit the following with a drop-out
     4  prevention plan application:
     5         (1)  A description of the school district's current or
     6     proposed drop-out prevention plan that includes a
     7     comprehensive list of alternative education programs and
     8     pathways to earn a diploma.
     9         (2)  A description of the school district's programs,
    10     services and strategies aimed at drop-out prevention.
    11         (3)  A description of how the grant will augment a
    12     current drop-out prevention plan or create additional drop-
    13     out prevention services for students.
    14         (4)  An estimate of the number of students who will be
    15     served by a drop-out prevention grant and who will be
    16     provided with individual graduation plans.
    17         (5)  A listing of the community partners that the school
    18     district will collaborate with and the community partners'
    19     roles in the delivery of the drop-out prevention plan.
    20         (6)  Other relevant information as determined by the
    21     office DEPARTMENT.                                             <--
    22     (c)  Application for drop-out recovery program grants.--A
    23  community partner working in conjunction with a school district
    24  shall submit the following with the drop-out recovery grant
    25  application:
    26         (1)  A description of the drop-out recovery program that
    27     includes a summary of the outreach and referral strategy that
    28     will be utilized by the community partner and school district
    29     to reengage dropouts into educational programming.
    30         (2)  A description of the community partner's programs
    20080H2466B4419                 - 14 -     

     1     and services currently used for drop-out recovery.
     2         (3)  A description of how the grant will augment current
     3     drop-out recovery programs or create additional drop-out
     4     recovery initiatives.
     5         (4)  In the case where a community partner collaborates
     6     with more than one school district to offer a regional drop-
     7     out recovery program, a listing of the school districts and
     8     community partners that will collaborate and the agreement
     9     between the entities designating responsibilities for the
    10     program.
    11  Section 504.  Grant coordinator.
    12     Each school district and community partner that receives a
    13  grant for a drop-out prevention plan or drop-out recovery
    14  program shall appoint DESIGNATE a grant coordinator who shall be  <--
    15  responsible for the administration of the grant in accordance
    16  with the requirements of this act.
    17  Section 505.  Individual graduation plans.
    18     (a)  General rule.--Each school district receiving a drop-out
    19  prevention grant shall be provided with additional funding to
    20  prepare individual graduation plans for at-risk students served
    21  by the drop-out prevention plan grant in the school district.
    22     (b)  Contents.--An individual graduation plan may include,
    23  but not be limited to, the following:
    24         (1)  Identify educational goals and establish personal
    25     goals for an at-risk student.
    26         (2)  Provide tools and assistance in postsecondary and
    27     career exploration, including financial aid counseling and
    28     assistance.
    29         (3)  Track assessment results and educational history and
    30     provide appropriate monitoring and academic intervention and
    20080H2466B4419                 - 15 -     

     1     other evaluation strategies as determined by the school
     2     district.
     3         (4)  Track at-risk student service learning programs,
     4     learning-to-work experiences, entrepreneurial experiences and
     5     extracurricular and organization activities.
     6         (5)  Address participation of the at-risk student's
     7     parents or guardian, including consideration of the parents'
     8     or guardian's educational expectations for the student.
     9         (6)  Additional requirements as determined by the school
    10     district OR THE DEPARTMENT.                                    <--
    11  Section 506.  Technical assistance.
    12     At the request of a school district, the department shall
    13  provide each school district with technical assistance,
    14  including, but not limited to, best practices or strategies to
    15  assist in the development of an effective drop-out prevention
    16  plan or drop-out recovery program, or both, and individual
    17  graduation plans for at-risk students that will enhance the
    18  school district's ability to meet the diverse needs of its
    19  student population and community. Technical assistance shall
    20  include research-based alternative options and strategies and
    21  may be provided through online training programs.
    22  Section 507.  Priority funding.
    23     School districts and community partners located in school      <--
    24  districts that the office determines as having a drop-out rate
    25  higher than the State average shall receive priority when
    26  considering applications for drop-out prevention plan grants and
    27  drop-out recovery program grants.
    28     (A)  PREVENTION.--FOR DROP-OUT PREVENTION PLAN GRANTS,         <--
    29  PRIORITY FUNDING SHALL BE PROVIDED TO SCHOOL DISTRICTS THAT HAVE
    30  BEEN DETERMINED BY THE DEPARTMENT TO HAVE A DROP-OUT RATE HIGHER
    20080H2466B4419                 - 16 -     

     1  THAN THE STATE AVERAGE.
     2     (B)  RECOVERY.--FOR DROP-OUT RECOVERY PROGRAM GRANTS,
     3  PRIORITY FUNDING SHALL BE PROVIDED TO COMMUNITY PARTNERS BASED
     4  ON THE PERCENTAGE OF INDIVIDUALS LACKING A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA
     5  IN THE WORK FORCE INVESTMENT AREA THAT IS BEING SERVED, AS
     6  DETERMINED BY THE DEPARTMENT.
     7                             CHAPTER 7
     8                           ADMINISTRATION
     9  Section 701.  Reporting.
    10     Beginning in the 2010-2011 school year and each school year
    11  thereafter, the office DEPARTMENT shall annually prepare a        <--
    12  report and provide a copy of the report to the Education
    13  Committee of the Senate and the Education Committee of the House
    14  of Representatives and shall post a copy of the report on the
    15  department's publicly accessible Internet website by September 1
    16  of each year, that contains, at a minimum, the following:
    17         (1)  All drop-out, graduation and graduation-gap rates
    18     reported by school entities, charter schools and cyber
    19     charter schools, including school-level data, disaggregated
    20     by the factors used to identify an at-risk student and the
    21     following classifications:
    22             (i)  Limited English proficiency.
    23             (ii)  Low income.
    24             (iii)  Special education.
    25             (iv)  Gifted education.
    26             (v)  Race/ethnicity.
    27             (vi)  Gender.
    28             (vii)  School entity.
    29             (viii)  Geographic area.
    30         (2)  Highest grade level completed and age prior to
    20080H2466B4419                 - 17 -     

     1     dropping out.
     2         (3)  Number of students served by the drop-out prevention
     3     plan and drop-out recovery program grants.
     4         (4)  Identification of school districts and community
     5     partners who received either a drop-out prevention plan grant
     6     or a drop-out recovery program grant and the total amount the
     7     entities received.
     8         (5)  An evaluation of the grant dollars' effectiveness in
     9     aiding school districts and community partners working in
    10     conjunction with school districts to provide successful drop-
    11     out prevention plans and drop-out recovery programs.
    12     (b)  Uniform reporting.--School entities, charter schools and
    13  cyber charter schools shall use the definitions and formulas
    14  established by the department if no Federal statute, regulation
    15  or guideline exists when reporting the graduation, drop-out and
    16  graduation-gap rates to the office DEPARTMENT. School entities,   <--
    17  charter schools and cyber charter schools shall report these
    18  rates annually, as required by the office DEPARTMENT, on a form   <--
    19  to be developed and provided by the office DEPARTMENT.            <--
    20     (c)  Guidelines and standards.--The office DEPARTMENT may      <--
    21  develop any guidelines or standards necessary to implement the
    22  requirements of this act.
    23                             CHAPTER 11
    24                      MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
    25  Section 1101.  Individualized education program.
    26     Notwithstanding section 505, a A student's individualized      <--
    27  education program developed under 22 Pa. Code Ch. 14 (relating
    28  to special education services and programs) AND CONTAINING THE    <--
    29  PLAN CONTENTS SET OUT IN SECTION 505(B) WITH APPROPRIATE
    30  ACCOMMODATIONS, MODIFICATIONS AND SUPPORTS may be used as the
    20080H2466B4419                 - 18 -     

     1  student's individual graduation plan under this act.
     2  Section 1102.  Effective date.
     3     This act shall take effect July 1, 2009, or immediately,
     4  whichever is later.


















    D8L24BIL/20080H2466B4419        - 19 -