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," providing for Commonwealth secondary 
6school diploma.

7The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
8hereby enacts as follows:

9Section 1. The act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known
10as the Public School Code of 1949, is amended by adding a
11section to read:

12Section 1613.1. Commonwealth Secondary School Diploma.--(a)
13Within ninety (90) days of the effective date of this section,
14the Department of Education shall solicit proposals for the
15establishment and implementation of at least <-two testing
16programs <-one computer-based high school equivalency assessment
17and at least one paper-based high school equivalency assessment
18under which individuals who do not possess a secondary school
19diploma and are not enrolled in a public or nonpublic school may

1obtain a Commonwealth secondary school diploma upon earning a
2passing score as determined by the Department of Education. The
3Department of Education shall at a minimum publish notice of its
4intention to solicit proposals in the Pennsylvania Bulletin and
5on its publicly accessible Internet website.

6(b) Within one year of the effective date of this section,
7the Department of Education shall establish, implement and
8maintain at least <-two testing programs one computer-based high
9school equivalency assessment and at least one paper-based high
10school equivalency assessment under which individuals may obtain
11a Commonwealth secondary school diploma.

12(c) Each <-testing program high school equivalency assessment
13established under subsection (b) shall:

14(1) be aligned with the rigor of Pennsylvania academic
15standards; <-and

<-16(2) be available in both a paper-based and computer-based
17testing format; and

18(3) <-(2) include multiple testing sections that may be taken
19on separate dates.

20(d) In establishing <-testing programs each high school
21equivalency assessment pursuant to subsection (b), the
22Department of Education shall consider the affordability and
23accessibility of <-testing programs each high school equivalency
24assessment to maximize the ability of individuals to obtain a
25Commonwealth secondary school diploma.

<-26(e) As used in this section, the following terms shall have
27the meanings given to them in this subsection:

28"Commonwealth secondary school diploma" means the high school
29equivalency credential issued by the Commonwealth of
30Pennsylvania to residents of this Commonwealth who do not

1possess a secondary school diploma.

2"High school equivalency assessment" means an assessment
3designed to certify that an individual who has not graduated
4from high school has obtained a high school level of academic
5skill.

6Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.