1Amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), entitled "An
2act relating to the public school system, including certain
3provisions applicable as well to private and parochial
4schools; amending, revising, consolidating and changing the
5laws relating thereto," in terms and courses of study,
6providing for Holocaust, genocide and human rights violations
7instruction.

<-8The General Assembly finds and declares as follows:

9(1) To provide children with an understanding of the
10importance of the protection of human rights and the
11potential consequences of unchecked ignorance, discrimination
12and persecution, it is a matter of high priority that
13children in this Commonwealth be educated concerning the
14Holocaust, genocide and other human rights violations.

15(2) Therefore, the General Assembly strongly encourages
16school entities in this Commonwealth to offer instruction in
17the Holocaust, genocide and other human rights violations.

1The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
2hereby enacts as follows:

3Section 1. The act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known
4as the Public School Code of 1949, is amended by adding a
5section to read:

6Section 1554. Holocaust, Genocide and Human Rights
7Violations Instruction.--(a) (1) Beginning with school year
82015-2016, each school entity <-may shall may offer instruction in
9the Holocaust, genocide and human rights violations to students<-.
10If offered by the school entity, the.<- The instruction shall be
11integrated within the social studies and language arts courses
12of study required in accordance with State Board of Education
13regulations. Instruction may also be integrated into other
14appropriate courses of study.

15(2) The Holocaust, genocide and human rights violations
16instruction permitted pursuant to paragraph (1) shall:

17(i) Be age appropriate.

18(ii) Be sequential in method of study.

19(iii) Communicate the connection between national, ethnic,
20racial or religious intolerance and the subjects described in
21subsection (b).

22(iv) Communicate the impact of personal responsibility,
23civic engagement and societal response within the context of the
24subjects described in subsection (b).

25(3) School entities may utilize any appropriate public or
26private materials, personnel and other resources in developing
27and implementing the program of instruction permitted pursuant
28to paragraph (1). The Department of Education shall <-make
29available <-distribute information about appropriate curriculum
30materials <-upon request of a to each school entity. School

1entities <-that offer the instruction permitted pursuant to
2paragraph (1) may utilize any curriculum that complies with the
3requirements of this subsection.

4(b) (1) The Department of Education shall establish
5curriculum guidelines no later than twelve (12) months after the
6effective date of this section. The guidelines shall encourage
7the inclusion of all of the following subjects where appropriate
8in the instruction:

9(i) The breadth of the history of the Holocaust, including
10the Third Reich dictatorship, concentration camp system,
11persecution of Jews and non-Jews, Jewish and non-Jewish
12resistance and post-World War II trials.

13(ii) The definition, history, response and actions taken in
14the face of genocide, including the Holocaust and any other
15genocide perpetrated against humanity<-, including the Rwandan 
16genocide and other genocides committed in Africa, Asia and 
17Europe.

18(iii) Human rights violations.

19(iv) Anti-Semitism, racism and the abridgment of civil
20rights.

21(2) The Department of Education <-may shall work in
22consultation with organizations <-and individuals that provide
23educational <-expertise and resources related to the Holocaust,
24genocide and human rights violations to develop the curriculum
25guidelines. <-The guidelines shall state the minimum amount of
26instruction necessary to adequately educate students on the
27Holocaust, genocide and human rights violations.

28(c) Beginning with the 2015-2016 school year, the Department
29of Education shall make available, to all school entities, in-
30service training programs based upon the instruction <-permitted

<-1required pursuant to provided for under subsection (a) and the
2curriculum guidelines established pursuant to subsection (b).

3(d) (1) Beginning with the 2015-2016 school year, each
4school entity <-that offers the instruction permitted pursuant to
5subsection (a) <-providing instruction under subsection (a) shall
6provide, as part of its in-service training, programs on the
7Holocaust, genocide and human rights violations for all
8instructors whose teaching responsibilities include courses of
9study in which instruction concerning the Holocaust, genocide
10and human rights violations is integrated. A school entity may
11utilize the programs made available by the Department of
12Education or use other alternative programs that are consistent
13with the provisions of this section.

14(2) Employes required to complete continuing professional
15education under section 1205.2 shall receive credit toward the
16continuing professional education requirements where the
17training program provided pursuant to paragraph (1) has been
18approved by the Department of Education.

19(e) The Department of Education shall provide the
20guidelines, in-service training and any other materials
21developed in accordance with this section to any nonpublic
22school within this Commonwealth upon receiving a request from
23the nonpublic school.

<-24(f) The State Board of Education shall adopt rules and

<-25(f) The State Board of Education shall:

26(1) Conduct a study regarding the manner in which
27instruction in the Holocaust, genocide and human rights
28violations is offered by school entities in this Commonwealth.
29In conducting the study, the State Board of Education shall
30request that each school entity provide the State Board of

1Education with information concerning whether the school entity
2offers such instruction and the manner in which such instruction
3is offered. Each school entity shall provide information to the
4State Board of Education in response to a request under this
5paragraph. Following the 2016-2017 school year, but not later
6than November 30, 2017, the State Board of Education shall issue
7a report to the Governor, the Secretary of Education, the
8Chairman and Minority Chairman of the Education Committee of the
9Senate and the Chairman and Minority Chairman of the Education
10Committee of the House of Representatives addressing the
11following:

12(i) The number of school entities offering
13instruction in the Holocaust, genocide and human rights
14violations.

15(ii) The number of school entities using the
16curriculum guidelines established by the Department of
17Education under subsection (b).

18(iii) The number of school entities using the in-
19service training programs made available by the
20Department of Education under subsection (c).

21(iv) A description of the manner in which school
22entities are offering instruction in the Holocaust,
23genocide and human rights violations, including the
24number of hours of instruction offered, the grade levels
25at which such instruction is offered and the course
26within such instruction is integrated.

27(v) The recommendations for improvements to the
28offering of instruction in the Holocaust, genocide and
29human rights violations, including recommended
30legislation.

1(2) Adopt a regulation, pursuant to the act of June 25, 
21982 (P.L.633, No.181), known as the "Regulatory Review Act," 
3to require school entities to offer instruction in the 
4Holocaust, genocide and human rights violations that is 
5consistent with subsections (a) and (b), if the study 
6conducted by the State Board of Education under paragraph (1) 
7demonstrates that less than ninety percent of the school 
8entities are offering instruction in the Holocaust, genocide 
9and human rights violations consistent with subsections (a) 
10and (b).

11(3) Adopt rules and regulations necessary for the
12implementation of this section pursuant to <-the act of June
1325, 1982 (P.L.633, No.181), known as the "Regulatory Review
14Act."

15(g) For purposes of this section, the term "school entity"
16shall mean a school district, charter school, regional charter
17school, cyber charter school, intermediate unit or area
18vocational-technical school.

19Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.