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A06807
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.
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
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the Department of Education, in consultation with a Statewide
organization representing school directors and a Statewide
organization representing school business officials, pertaining
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.
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(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. 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.
Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
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 on January 1, 2018, and each year thereafter, each
newly elected or appointed school director shall complete,
within the first year of the school director's first term, a
training program which shall consist of eight (8) hours of
instruction, including, at a minimum, information regarding the
following:
(1) Instruction and academic programs.
(2) Personnel.
(3) Fiscal management.
(4) Operations.
(5) Governance.
(6) Ethics and open meetings, to include the requirements
under 65 Pa.C.S. Pt. II (relating to accountability).
(b) Within the first year of the term of each reelection or
reappointment to the board of school directors, each school
director shall complete an advanced training program which shall
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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 to enable the school director to serve effectively.
(c) The training programs required under subsections (a) and
(b) shall be provided by the Department of Education, which
shall contract with a Statewide organization representing school
directors to prepare and offer these training programs at no
cost to school districts, school directors or members of a
school reform commission. In preparing the training programs
required under subsections (a) and (b), a Statewide organization
representing school directors shall consult with a Statewide
organization representing school business officials.
(d) Nothing in this section shall preclude a Statewide
organization representing school directors from offering
training programs or other learning activities or opportunities
in addition to the training programs required under subsections
(a) and (b) at an additional cost.
(e) A Statewide organization representing school directors
shall approve alternative training programs that fulfill the
requirements of this section which may be prepared and offered
by entities that may include school districts, intermediate
units, postsecondary institutions and other Statewide
educational organizations. A Statewide organization representing
school directors shall post on its publicly accessible Internet
website all alternative training programs approved under this
subsection.
(f) This section shall apply to members of a school reform
commission established under section 696, provided that the
training programs provided to members of a school reform
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commission shall include information regarding sections 693 and
696 and other information deemed appropriate to enable a member
of a school reform commission to serve effectively.
(g) (1) Beginning on January 1, 2018, and in each year
thereafter, each newly appointed trustee of a charter school
entity shall complete, within the first year of the trustee ' s
first year of service, a training program prepared and offered
by the Department of Education in consultation with Statewide
organizations representing charter school entities pertaining to
the skills and knowledge necessary to serve as a trustee. The
training program shall consist of eight (8) hours of
instruction, including, at a minimum, the information listed in
subsection (a)(1), (2), (3), (4), (5) and (6) and information
concerning Article XVII-A.
(2) During the fifth year of a trustee ' s service on the
board of trustees and every four (4) years thereafter, each
trustee shall complete an advanced training program prepared and
offered by the Department of Education, in consultation with
Statewide organizations representing charter school entities.
The advanced training program shall consist of four (4) hours of
instruction, including information on relevant changes to
Federal and State public school law, including Article XVII-A,
and regulations, fiscal management and other information deemed
appropriate to enable the trustee to serve effectively.
(3) The training programs required under paragraphs (1) and
(2) shall be provided at no cost to charter school entities or
charter school entity trustees. The Department of Education
shall approve alternative training programs that fulfill the
requirements of this subsection which may be provided by school
districts, intermediate units, postsecondary institutions,
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Statewide organizations representing charter school entities or
other Statewide educational organizations. The Department of
Education shall post on its publicly accessible Internet website
all alternative training programs approved under this paragraph.
(4) As used in this subsection, " charter school entity "
shall mean a charter school, regional charter school or cyber
charter school.
(h) Any entity providing training programs required under
this section shall examine options for providing these training
programs through methods such as online or other distance
learning media or through regionally based training.
Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
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