AN ACT

 

1Amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), entitled "An
2act relating to the public school system, including certain
3provisions applicable as well to private and parochial
4schools; amending, revising, consolidating and changing the
5laws relating thereto," in terms and courses of study,
6providing for Holocaust, genocide and human rights violations
7instruction.

8The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
9hereby enacts as follows:

10Section 1. The act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known
11as the Public School Code of 1949, is amended by adding a
12section to read:

13Section 1554. Holocaust, Genocide and Human Rights
14Violations Instruction.--(a) (1) Beginning with school year
152015-2016, each school entity <-may shall offer instruction in the
16Holocaust, genocide and human rights violations to students<-. If
17offered by the school entity, the.<- The instruction shall be

1integrated within the social studies and language arts courses
2of study required in accordance with State Board of Education
3regulations. Instruction may also be integrated into other
4appropriate courses of study.

5(2) The Holocaust, genocide and human rights violations
6instruction permitted pursuant to paragraph (1) shall:

7(i) Be age appropriate.

8(ii) Be sequential in method of study.

9(iii) Communicate the connection between national, ethnic,
10racial or religious intolerance and the subjects described in
11subsection (b).

12(iv) Communicate the impact of personal responsibility,
13civic engagement and societal response within the context of the
14subjects described in subsection (b).

15(3) School entities may utilize any appropriate public or
16private materials, personnel and other resources in developing
17and implementing the program of instruction permitted pursuant
18to paragraph (1). The Department of Education shall make
19available information about appropriate curriculum materials
20upon request of a school entity. School entities <-that offer the
21instruction permitted pursuant to paragraph (1) may utilize any
22curriculum that complies with the requirements of this
23subsection.

24(b) (1) The Department of Education shall establish
25curriculum guidelines no later than twelve (12) months after the
26effective date of this section. The guidelines shall encourage
27the inclusion of all of the following subjects where appropriate
28in the instruction:

29(i) The breadth of the history of the Holocaust, including
30the Third Reich dictatorship, concentration camp system,

1persecution of Jews and non-Jews, Jewish and non-Jewish
2resistance and post-World War II trials.

3(ii) The definition, history, response and actions taken in
4the face of genocide, including the Holocaust and any other
5genocide perpetrated against humanity.

6(iii) Human rights violations.

7(iv) Anti-Semitism, racism and the abridgment of civil
8rights.

9(2) The Department of Education may work in consultation
10with organizations that provide educational resources related to
11the Holocaust, genocide and human rights violations to develop
12the curriculum guidelines.

13(c) Beginning with the 2015-2016 school year, the Department
14of Education shall make available, to all school entities, in-
15service training programs based upon the instruction <-permitted
<-16required pursuant to subsection (a) and the curriculum
17guidelines established pursuant to subsection (b).

18(d) (1) Beginning with the 2015-2016 school year, each
19school entity <-that offers the instruction permitted pursuant to
20subsection (a) shall provide, as part of its in-service
21training, programs on the Holocaust, genocide and human rights
22violations for all instructors whose teaching responsibilities
23include courses of study in which instruction concerning the
24Holocaust, genocide and human rights violations is integrated. A
25school entity may utilize the programs made available by the
26Department of Education or use other alternative programs that
27are consistent with the provisions of this section.

28(2) Employes required to complete continuing professional
29education under section 1205.2 shall receive credit toward the
30continuing professional education requirements where the

1training program provided pursuant to paragraph (1) has been
2approved by the Department of Education.

3(e) The Department of Education shall provide the
4guidelines, in-service training and any other materials
5developed in accordance with this section to any nonpublic
6school within this Commonwealth upon receiving a request from
7the nonpublic school.

8(f) The State Board of Education shall adopt rules and
9regulations necessary for the implementation of this section
10pursuant to the act of June 25, 1982 (P.L.633, No.181), known as
11the "Regulatory Review Act."

12(g) For purposes of this section, the term "school entity"
13shall mean a school district, charter school, regional charter
14school, cyber charter school, intermediate unit or area
15vocational-technical school.

16Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.