A06453
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
1906
Session of
2015
INTRODUCED BY SAYLOR, JAMES, SCHLOSSBERG, WATSON, WARD, STURLA,
D. COSTA, MOUL, MAJOR, V. BROWN, FARRY AND DeLUCA,
MARCH 17, 2016
AS REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES, AS AMENDED, APRIL 4, 2016
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 school directors, providing for
school director training programs.
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 328. School Director Training Programs.--(a)
Beginning in the 2017-2018 school year and in each school year
thereafter, each newly elected or appointed school director
shall complete, during the first year of the school director's
first term, a training program developed and made available by
the Department of Education, in consultation with a Statewide
organization representing school directors and a Statewide
organization representing school business officials, pertaining
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to the skills and knowledge necessary to serve as a school
director. The training program shall consist of eight (8) hours
of instruction, to include, at a minimum, information regarding
the following:
(1) Instruction and academic programs.
(2) Personnel.
(3) Fiscal management.
(4) Operations.
(5) Governance.
(6) ETHICS, TO INCLUDE THE REQUIREMENTS UNDER 65 PA.C.S. PT.
II (RELATING TO ACCOUNTABILITY).
(b) Within one (1) year after each reelection or
reappointment to the board of school directors, each school
director shall complete an advanced training program developed
and offered by the Department of Education in consultation with
a Statewide organization representing school directors and a
Statewide organization representing school business officials.
The advanced training program shall consist of four (4) hours of
instruction, including information on relevant changes to
Federal and State public school law and regulations, fiscal
management and other information deemed appropriate by the
Department of Education, to enable the school director to serve
effectively.
(c) The Department of Education shall examine options for
providing the training programs required under this section
through methods such as online or other distance learning media
or through regional-based training.
(d) The training programs required under this section shall
be developed and offered by the Department of Education at no
cost to school . districts or school directors districts, school
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directors, charter schools, regional charter schools, cyber
charter schools or trustees. THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION MAY
APPROVE TRAINING PROGRAMS THAT FULFILL THE REQUIREMENTS OF THIS
SECTION WHICH CAN BE PROVIDED BY SCHOOL DISTRICTS, INTERMEDIATE
UNITS OR POSTSECONDARY INSTITUTIONS.
(e) Each school director who is in office on the effective
date of this section shall complete the training program
required under subsection (a) by June 30, 2018.
(f) This section shall apply to all trustees of a charter
school, regional charter school or cyber charter school. In
developing the training programs as required under this section,
the Department of Education shall consult with a Statewide
organization representing charter schools and regional charter
schools and with a Statewide organization representing cyber
charter schools to ensure that the training programs provided to
trustees include information regarding Article XVII-A and other
information deemed appropriate by the Department of Education to
enable a trustee to serve effectively.
Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
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