PRIOR PRINTER'S NO. 1997

PRINTER'S NO.  2046

  

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

  

SENATE BILL

 

No.

1440

Session of

2012

  

  

INTRODUCED BY DINNIMAN AND PICCOLA, MARCH 9, 2012

  

  

SENATOR PICCOLA, EDUCATION, AS AMENDED, MARCH 27, 2012   

  

  

  

AN ACT

  

1

Amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), entitled "An

2

act relating to the public school system, including certain

3

provisions applicable as well to private and parochial

4

schools; amending, revising, consolidating and changing the

5

laws relating thereto," in preliminary provisions, further

6

providing for definitions; and providing for reimbursement of

7

certain costs relating to Keystone Exams.

8

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

9

hereby enacts as follows:

10

Section 1.  Section 102 of the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30,

11

No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, is amended by

12

adding a definition to read:

13

Section 102.  Definitions.--When used in this act the

14

following words and phrases shall have the following meanings:

15

* * *

16

"Keystone Exam."  An assessment developed or caused to be

17

developed by the Department of Education pursuant to 22 Pa. Code

18

§ 4.51(f) (relating to State assessment system).

19

* * *

20

Section 2.  The act is amended by adding a section to read:

21

Section 120.  Reimbursement of Certain Costs Relating to

 


1

Keystone Exams.--(a)  Where the Department of Education or State

2

Board of Education takes any action that has the effect of

3

eliminating or limiting the number of Keystone Exams to fewer

4

than ten (10) subject-specific Keystone Exams required to be

5

developed pursuant to 22 Pa. Code § 4.51 (relating to State

6

assessment system), the Commonwealth shall, no later than June

7

30, 2018, reimburse school districts, charter schools and cyber

8

charter schools for costs incurred related to implementation of

9

any subject-specific Keystone Exam that has been eliminated or

10

will not be developed by the Department of Education by June 30,

11

2018.

12

(b)  Costs subject to reimbursement under subsection (a)

13

shall include, but not be limited to, expenses related to:

14

(1)  Curriculum development and alignment.

15

(2)  Professional development and training.

16

(3)  Local assessment development and validation.

17

(4)  Materials, including textbooks and technology.

18

(c)  No later than sixty (60) days after the effective date

19

of this section, the Department of Education shall publish in

20

the Pennsylvania Bulletin the anticipated development and

21

implementation schedule for all subject-specific Keystone Exams.

22

This schedule shall be updated by January 1 of each year.

23

(d)  No later than thirty (30) days after the Department of

24

Education or State Board of Education takes action that

25

eliminates or prevents the development of a subject-specific

26

Keystone Exam, the Department of Education shall provide written

27

notice to all school districts, charter schools and cyber

28

charter schools.

29

(e)  No later than ninety (90) days after receiving notice

<--

30

under subsection (d), a school district, charter school or cyber

- 2 -

 


1

charter school seeking reimbursement under subsection (a) shall

2

submit on a form developed by the Department of Education an

3

itemization and explanation of costs, including any supporting

4

documentation, related to the implementation of the subject-

5

specific Keystone Exam impacted by the action of the Department

6

of Education or the State Board of Education, and shall include

7

a request for reimbursement for those costs. Such costs shall be

8

subject to verification by the Department of Education and may

9

be subject to audit.

10

Section 3.  This act shall take effect in 60 days.

- 3 -