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        PRIOR PRINTER'S NO. 21                          PRINTER'S NO. 53

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA


SENATE BILL

No. 157 Session of 2007


        INTRODUCED BY RHOADES, MUSTO, C. WILLIAMS, LAVALLE, RAFFERTY,
           GORDNER, STACK, KASUNIC, COSTA, WASHINGTON, STOUT, WOZNIAK,
           M. WHITE, GREENLEAF AND EARLL, JANUARY 29, 2007

        SENATOR RHOADES, EDUCATION, AS AMENDED, FEBRUARY 6, 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," further providing for powers and
     6     duties of the intermediate unit board of directors; and
     7     providing for academic improvement programs.

     8     The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
     9  hereby enacts as follows:
    10     Section 1.  Section 914-A of the act of March 10, 1949
    11  (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, is
    12  amended by adding a clause to read:
    13     Section 914-A.  Powers and Duties of the Intermediate Unit
    14  Board of Directors.--An intermediate unit board of directors
    15  shall have the power and its duty shall be:
    16     * * *
    17     (18)  To provide support to school districts eligible for
    18  academic assistance and coordinate the academic improvement
    19  program established under section 925-A.
    20     Section 2.  The act is amended by adding a section to read:

     1     Section 925-A.  Academic Improvement Program.--(a)  Each
     2  intermediate unit shall provide support to and coordinate an
     3  academic improvement program for any school district assigned to
     4  the intermediate unit that is eligible for academic assistance
     5  under subsection (b). The intermediate unit shall provide
     6  technical support and staff assistance to an academic
     7  improvement team appointed under subsection (c).
     8     (b)  A school district shall be eligible for academic
     9  assistance under this section where:
    10     (1)  any school in the school district has been classified
    11  for warning for failure to meet at least one academic
    12  performance target; or
    13     (2)  the school district requests that the intermediate unit
    14  provide academic assistance under this section.
    15     (c)  (1)  Within thirty (30) days of the intermediate unit's
    16  receipt of the list of school districts eligible for academic
    17  assistance under subsection (b), an academic improvement team
    18  shall be appointed for each eligible school district. Members of
    19  the academic improvement team shall be appointed by the
    20  intermediate unit board of directors and the board of school
    21  directors of the school district eligible for academic
    22  assistance.
    23     (2)  Five (5) members of the academic improvement team shall
    24  be appointed by the intermediate unit board of directors. Such
    25  members shall not be employed by or otherwise affiliated with
    26  the school district eligible for academic assistance and may
    27  include:
    28     (i)  Intermediate unit staff members.
    29     (ii)  Teachers employed by school districts assigned to the
    30  intermediate unit.
    20070S0157B0053                  - 2 -     

     1     (iii)  Administrators employed by school districts assigned
     2  to the intermediate unit.
     3     (iv)  School board members from school districts assigned to
     4  the intermediate unit.
     5     (v)  Faculty members of colleges or universities in this
     6  Commonwealth with particular expertise in school improvement.
     7     (3)  Four (4) members of the academic improvement team shall
     8  be appointed by the board of school directors of the school
     9  district eligible for academic assistance. Such members shall
    10  include:
    11     (i)  A parent of a student enrolled in the school district.
    12     (ii)  A teacher employed by the school district who is
    13  selected by teachers employed by the school district.
    14     (iii)  An administrator employed by the school district, who
    15  is selected by administrators employed by the school district.
    16     (iv)  A member of the board of school directors of the school
    17  district who is selected by administrators employed by the
    18  school district.
    19     (4)  The intermediate unit board of directors shall select a
    20  chairman of the academic improvement team from the members
    21  appointed under paragraph (2).
    22     (d)  The academic improvement team shall have the following
    23  powers and duties:
    24     (1)  To design an academic improvement plan pursuant to
    25  subsection (e).
    26     (2)  To provide periodic reports on the implementation of the
    27  academic improvement plan to the intermediate unit board of
    28  directors and the board of school directors of the school
    29  district eligible for academic assistance.
    30     (3)  To meet periodically, but not less than quarterly, to
    20070S0157B0053                  - 3 -     

     1  review the implementation of the academic improvement plan.
     2     (4)  To seek technical assistance from the Department of
     3  Education in the design and implementation of the academic
     4  improvement plan.
     5     (e)  (1)  Within thirty-five (35) days of the appointment of
     6  an academic improvement team under subsection (c), the academic
     7  improvement team shall present an academic improvement plan to
     8  the intermediate unit board of directors and the board of school
     9  directors of the school district. Within forty-five (45) days of
    10  the appointment of an academic improvement team, the board of
    11  school directors of the school district shall vote to approve or
    12  approve with amendments the plan at its next regularly scheduled
    13  public meeting.
    14     (2)  The academic improvement plan shall set forth specific
    15  goals for improving the academic performance of students in the
    16  subject area or areas in which the school failed to meet an
    17  academic performance target and may set forth goals in any
    18  subject area for which an academic performance target has been
    19  established. The plan shall include strategies designed to
    20  achieve those goals. In preparing the plan, the academic
    21  improvement team shall review school district programs, services
    22  and strategies and recommend improvements as necessary. Such
    23  programs, services and strategies shall include, but may not be
    24  limited to:
    25     (i)  The involvement of parents in the improvement of
    26  academic performance through the development of home activities
    27  and materials to enhance student learning.
    28     (ii)  Continuing professional education options in addition
    29  to options included in the continuing professional education
    30  plan required under section 1205.1(c.1). Such additional options
    20070S0157B0053                  - 4 -     

     1  shall be specific to improvements in the academic performance of
     2  students.
     3     (iii)  Classroom instructional strategies specific to
     4  improvements in the academic performance of students.
     5     (iv)  The redesign of curricula specific to improvements in
     6  the academic performance of students.
     7     (v)  Improvements in school safety.
     8     (vi)  Tutoring programs for students who scored below
     9  proficient on a Pennsylvania System of School Assessment test.
    10     (3)  The approved academic improvement plan shall be
    11  effective so long as the school district is eligible for
    12  academic assistance under subsection (b), unless the school
    13  district is identified for further improvement as provided under
    14  paragraph (6). Within fifteen (15) days of the school district's
    15  notification of the results of the school district's performance
    16  on a Pennsylvania System of School Assessment test, the academic
    17  improvement team shall review such results and make a report to
    18  the intermediate unit board of directors and the board of school
    19  directors of the school district eligible for academic
    20  assistance.
    21     (4)  Where the academic improvement team determines that the
    22  school district continues to be eligible for academic assistance
    23  under subsection (b), the academic improvement team shall
    24  propose any necessary adjustments to the academic improvement
    25  plan to the intermediate unit board of directors and the board
    26  of school directors of the school district eligible for academic
    27  assistance. Such adjustments shall be subject to the approval of
    28  the board of school directors and shall constitute a new
    29  academic improvement plan.
    30     (5)  Where the academic improvement team determines that the
    20070S0157B0053                  - 5 -     

     1  school district is no longer eligible for academic assistance
     2  under subsection (b), the academic improvement team shall
     3  terminate. The board of school directors of the school district
     4  eligible for academic assistance may continue to implement the
     5  academic improvement plan.
     6     (6)  Where the school district is subsequently identified for
     7  further improvement, the academic improvement team shall
     8  terminate. A school district identified for further improvement
     9  shall mean:
    10     (i)  A school district certified as distressed under section
    11  691.
    12     (ii)  A school district certified as an education empowerment
    13  district under section 1705-B or 1707-B.
    14     (iii)  A school district placed on an education empowerment
    15  list under section 1703-B.
    16     (iv)  A school district in which any school is identified for
    17  school improvement or corrective action.
    18     (f)  The Department of Education shall:
    19     (1)  Annually provide each intermediate unit with a list of
    20  school districts eligible for academic assistance under
    21  subsection (b)(1).
    22     (2)  Upon request, provide technical assistance to an
    23  academic improvement team.
    24     (3)  Establish a clearinghouse of information related to
    25  strategies for improving the academic performance of students
    26  under subsection (e)(2).
    27     (4)  Establish and provide continuing professional education
    28  courses, programs, activities or learning experiences under
    29  section 1205.2(f) specific to classroom strategies to improve
    30  the academic performance of students in subject areas for which
    20070S0157B0053                  - 6 -     

     1  an academic performance target has been established.
     2     (5)  Develop and promulgate by guidelines, criteria and
     3  procedures for providing funds to intermediate units under this
     4  section. Applications for funds shall be submitted to the
     5  department for approval. The department shall provide assistance
     6  to applicants in the preparation of applications.
     7     (g)  This section shall not apply to any of the following:
     8     (1)  A school district certified as distressed under section
     9  691.
    10     (2)  A school district certified as an education empowerment
    11  district under section 1705-B or 1707-B.
    12     (3)  A school district placed on an education empowerment
    13  list under section 1703-B.
    14     (4)  A school district in which any school is identified for
    15  school improvement or corrective action.
    16     (H)  NOTHING CONTAINED IN THIS SECTION SHALL BE CONSTRUED TO   <--
    17  SUPERSEDE OR PREEMPT A PROVISION OF A COLLECTIVE BARGAINING
    18  AGREEMENT.
    19     Section 3.  This act shall take effect in 60 days.








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