PRINTER'S NO. 589
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
564
Session of
2017
INTRODUCED BY BOBACK, KORTZ, BIZZARRO, McNEILL, BARRAR, SAINATO,
KAUFFMAN, STAATS, O'BRIEN, MILLARD, MACKENZIE, MURT, WATSON,
NEILSON, READSHAW, WARD, COX, STURLA, GABLER, FREEMAN,
SOLOMON, RADER, PYLE, SACCONE, D. COSTA, TOOHIL, ROE, HAHN,
PICKETT, ELLIS, DeLISSIO, LONGIETTI, HARKINS, FABRIZIO,
YOUNGBLOOD, CUTLER, PASHINSKI, RYAN, DIAMOND, RAVENSTAHL,
ENGLISH, ROTHMAN, RAPP, ROEBUCK, EVERETT, BURNS, DALEY, HELM,
V. BROWN, JAMES, DONATUCCI, BENNINGHOFF, GOODMAN AND DUSH,
FEBRUARY 21, 2017
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, FEBRUARY 21, 2017
AN ACT
Amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), entitled "An
act relating to the public school system, including certain
provisions applicable as well to private and parochial
schools; amending, revising, consolidating and changing the
laws relating thereto," in high schools, providing for civics
test graduation requirement.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. The act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known
as the Public School Code of 1949, is amended by adding a
section to read:
Section 1613.1. Civics Test Graduation Requirement--(a)
Notwithstanding 22 Pa. Code ยง4.24 (relating to high school
graduation requirements), beginning in the 2020-2021 school year
and in each school year thereafter, each school entity shall
require a student, as a condition of high school graduation, to
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correctly answer at least sixty percent (60%) of the questions
on a test that is identical to the one hundred (100) question
civics test used by the United States Citizenship and
Immigration Services.
(b) Each school entity may administer the test required
under subsection (a) in any grade from grades seven through
twelve, and shall:
(1) Determine the manner in which the test shall be
administered.
(2) Offer students the opportunity to take the test at least
three times each year as follows:
(i) Once in the fall.
(ii) Once in the spring
(iii) Once in the summer.
(3) Indicate that a student has satisfied the requirements
of this section in a student's academic record.
(c) Each student shall be permitted to take the test
required under subsection (a) as many times as necessary in
order to meet the requirements of this section.
(d) A student with an individualized education program shall
not be required to comply with the requirements of this section
if the provisions of the student's individualized education
program indicate otherwise.
(e) The chief school administrator of a school entity may
waive the requirements of this section for students in grade
twelve on a case by case basis for good cause in extenuating
circumstances. Waivers granted under this subsection shall not
exceed ten percent (10%) of the students in the graduating class
of the school entity.
(f) The department shall post on its publicly accessible
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Internet website links to the one hundred (100) question civics
test used by the United States Citizenship and Immigration
Services and any related resources offered by the United States
Citizenship and Immigration Services. The department shall also
post on its publicly accessible Internet website any additional
materials that the department deems useful to school entities in
complying with the requirement in this section.
(g) Nothing in this section shall be construed to require
school entities to collect and report new data to the
department.
(h) As used in this section, the following words and phrases
shall have the meanings given to them in this subsection, unless
the context clearly indicates otherwise:
"School entity" shall mean each school district, area
vocational-technical school, intermediate unit, charter school,
cyber charter school, regional charter school, or nonpublic
school from which a student may graduate high school.
"Department" shall mean the Department of Education of the
Commonwealth.
"Individualized education program" shall mean an
individualized education program established under 22 Pa. Code
Ch. 14 (relating to special education services and programs).
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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