PRINTER'S NO. 2968
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
2048
Session of
2018
INTRODUCED BY LONGIETTI, ROEBUCK, THOMAS, SOLOMON, PASHINSKI,
KINSEY, READSHAW, D. MILLER, KIRKLAND, SCHLOSSBERG, WARD,
SCHWEYER, WARREN, ZIMMERMAN, GILLEN AND ROZZI,
FEBRUARY 1, 2018
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, FEBRUARY 1, 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 high schools, providing for high
school graduation requirements.
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 1613.1. High School Graduation Requirements.--(a)
High school graduation requirements and revisions to them shall
be approved by a school entity's governing board by July 1,
2018. A copy of the requirements shall be published and
distributed to students, parents and guardians. Copies of the
requirements also shall be available in each school building or
on each school entity's publicly accessible Internet website.
Changes to high school graduation requirements shall be
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published and distributed to students, parents and guardians and
made available in each school building or on each school
entity's publicly accessible Internet website immediately
following approval by the governing board of the school entity.
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the
contrary, beginning in the 2018-2019 school year, each school
entity, if applicable, shall adopt and implement requirements
for high school graduation that, at minimum, include:
(1) Course completion and grades.
(2) Demonstration of proficiency as determined by the school
entity, if applicable, in each of the State academic standards
not assessed by a State assessment.
(3) Successful completion of each of the following State
academic standards: mathematics, specifically algebra I; English
language arts, specifically literature; and science and
technology and environment and ecology, as determined through
any one of the following:
(i) Attainment of an established composite score on the
Algebra I, Biology and Literature Keystone Exams. Each student
who satisfies the requirements of this section in this manner
must achieve basic or above on each of the three Keystone Exams.
The secretary shall establish and identify the satisfactory
composite score a student must achieve in order to meet the
requirements of this section. The composite score and any
changes to the composite score must be approved by the State
board.
(ii) For each Keystone Exam on which a student did not
achieve proficiency, completion and attainment of an established
score on an approved alternative assessment that includes
academic content aligned to the following State academic
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standards: mathematics, specifically algebra I; English language
arts, specifically literature; and science and technology and
environment and ecology, specifically biology. The secretary
shall identify approved alternative assessments for each content
area of algebra I, biology and literature, if applicable, and
shall establish the score a student must attain on each approved
alternative assessment in order to meet the requirements of this
section. The State board shall approve the score a student must
attain on each approved alternative assessment, any changes to
the score to be attained, the list of approved alternative
assessments and any changes to the list.
(iii) For each Keystone Exam on which a student does not
achieve proficiency, completion of locally established grade-
based requirements for the associated academic content area and
demonstration of three pieces of evidence that reflect readiness
for meaningful postsecondary engagement, consistent with a
student's goals and career plan as represented in the student's
career portfolio. The department shall provide guidance as to
what may be considered as evidence of readiness for meaningful
postsecondary engagement.
(c) A CTE concentrator who satisfies the requirements set
forth in section 121(c) and (d) shall be granted and issued a
high school diploma by the school entity.
(d) Children with disabilities who satisfactorily complete a
special education program developed by an individualized
education program team under the Individuals With Disabilities
Education Act (Public Law 91-230, 20 U.S.C. § 1400 et seq.) and
22 Pa. Code Ch. 14 (relating to special education services and
programs) shall be granted and issued a regular high school
diploma by the school entity, if applicable. This subsection
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applies if the special education program of a child with a
disability does not otherwise meet the requirements of this
section.
(e) For purposes of this section, a student shall be deemed
proficient in the State academic standards whenever the student
satisfies the requirements of subsection (b), regardless of the
student's grade level or age.
(f) A student who has achieved a score of proficient or
advanced on a Keystone Exam is not permitted to retake the exam.
(g) The performance level demonstrated in each of the State
academic standards in subsection (b), including the highest
performance level demonstrated by a student on the associated
Keystone Exam, may be included on a student's transcript.
(h) The release of individual student Pennsylvania System of
School Assessment or Keystone Exam scores to the department or
other Commonwealth entities is prohibited in accordance with 22
Pa. Code § 4.51(f) (relating to State assessment system).
(i) Beginning in the 2016-2017 school year, a school entity
is not required to provide and a student is not required to
complete supplemental instruction as required by 22 Pa. Code §§
4.24(k) (relating to high school graduation requirements) and
4.51b(f) (relating to Keystone Exams) or any other provision of
law.
(j) A student shall not be required to participate in a
project-based assessment pursuant to 22 Pa. Code §§ 4.24 and
4.51c (relating to project-based assessment) or any other
provision of law.
(k) A school entity shall determine whether a student who
transfers from an out-of-State school having demonstrated
proficiency in coursework and assessments aligned with the State
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academic standards assessed by each Keystone Exam may satisfy
the requirements of subsection (b) subject to guidance developed
by the secretary.
(l) As used in this section:
"Career portfolio" shall mean a future education and career
plan required under the Career Education and Work Standards set
forth in 22 Pa. Code Ch. 4 (relating to academic standards and
assessment).
"CTE concentrator" shall mean a student who, by the end of a
reporting year, will be reported as successfully completing at
least fifty percent (50%) of the minimum technical instructional
hours required under 22 Pa. Code Ch. 339 (relating to vocational
education).
"Department" shall mean the Department of Education of the
Commonwealth.
"Keystone Exams" shall mean State-developed end-of-course
exams. The term includes the designated Keystone Exams used to
determine, in part, a student's eligibility for high school
graduation.
"Program of study" shall mean instructional programs
developed by the department's Bureau of Career and Technical
Education that include content aligned with academic standards
and relevant career and technical content in a progression of
courses that align secondary education with postsecondary
education to adequately prepare students to succeed in
postsecondary education.
"School entity" shall mean a school district, charter school,
cyber charter school, area vocational technical school or
intermediate unit.
"Secretary" shall mean the Secretary of Education of the
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Commonwealth.
"State assessment" shall mean a valid and reliable
measurement of student performance on a set of academic
standards as measured by the Pennsylvania System of School
Assessment or the Keystone Exams.
"State board" shall mean the State Board of Education.
Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
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