A07380
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
85
Session of
2018
INTRODUCED BY LAWRENCE, BARRAR, BERNSTINE, CHARLTON, DIAMOND,
ENGLISH, KEEFER, METCALFE, O'NEILL, ROE, TALLMAN, THOMAS AND
WARD, MAY 24, 2018
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, MAY 24, 2018
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 preliminary provisions, providing
for exemption from Keystone Exams.
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 121.1. Exemption from Keystone Exams.--(a) Within
one hundred eighty (180) days of the effective date of this
section, each governing authority of a school entity shall meet
and determine if the school entity shall whether to adopt a
policy to excuse a student from Keystone Exam testing if the
student's parent or guardian submits an objection based on
philosophical grounds in writing to school officials.
(b) If a governing authority of a school entity fails to
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meet or make a determination as prescribed under subsection (a),
the school entity shall excuse a student from Keystone Exam
testing if the student's parent or guardian submits an objection
based on philosophical grounds in writing to school officials.
(c) If a school entity adopts a policy allowing for excusal
from Keystone Exam testing based on philosophical grounds under
subsection (a), or if the school entity fails to meet or make a
determination within the prescribed one hundred eighty (180)
days and the default applies under subsection (b), the following
shall apply:
(1) A student shall not be given negative consequences,
including , but not limited to, the denial of a high school
diploma, based solely on the student's parent or guardian
utilizing the provisions under subsection (a) or (b).
(2) A school entity, including , but not limited to, the
administration, chief school officer, temporary professional
employes and , professional employes and other school employes ,
may not:
(i) solicit a student or student's parent or guardian to
utilize the provisions under subsection (a) or (b); or
(ii) be penalized for a student's parent or guardian
utilizing the provisions under subsection (a) or (b).
(3) Nothing in this section shall prohibit a school entity,
including, but not limited to, the administration, chief school
officer, temporary professional employes, professional employes
and other school employes, from communicating with students,
parents or guardians regarding the utilization of the provisions
under subsection (a) or (b) which are not intended to solicit
such utilization.
(d) As used in this section, the following words and phrases
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shall have the meanings given to them in the subsection unless
the context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Governing authority." A local board of school directors, or
the equivalent, of a school entity.
"School entity." A school district, intermediate unit, joint
school, area vocational-technical school, charter school,
regional charter school or cyber charter school.
Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
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