PRINTER'S NO. 963
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No.
766
Session of
2017
INTRODUCED BY ARGALL, SCAVELLO, WARD AND BREWSTER, JUNE 15, 2017
REFERRED TO EDUCATION, JUNE 15, 2017
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 charter schools, establishing the
Task Force on Cyber Charter Student Achievement within the
Department of Education and further providing for cyber
charter school requirements and prohibitions and for
enrollment and notification.
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 1704-A. Task Force on Cyber Charter Student
Achievement.--(a) The Task Force on Cyber Charter Student
Achievement is established within the department.
(b) The task force shall consist of the following members:
(1) The secretary or a designee who shall serve as
chairperson of the task force.
(2) Six individuals who represent public schools, two of
whom represent elementary schools, two of whom represent middle
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schools/junior high schools and two of whom represent high
schools, and all of whom are appointed by the Governor.
(3) Three individuals who represent charter schools, one of
whom represents elementary charter schools, one of whom
represents middle/junior high charter schools and one of whom
represents high school charter schools, and all of whom are
appointed by the Governor.
(4) Three individuals who represent cyber charter schools,
one of whom represents elementary cyber charter schools, one of
whom represents middle/junior high cyber charter schools and one
of whom represents high school cyber charter schools, and all of
whom are appointed by the Governor.
(c) The members of the task force appointed by the Governor
under subsection (b)(2), (3) and (4) shall serve for a term of
two years.
(d) The task force shall meet every five years and more
often at the call of the chairperson.
(e) The task force shall develop and issue minimum
achievement requirements for cyber charter school students under
section 1743-A(e)(4). The minimum achievement requirements shall
be completed and published in the Pennsylvania Bulletin within
one hundred eighty (180) days of the effective date of this
section.
Section 2. Sections 1743-A(e) and 1748-A(c) of the act are
amended to read:
Section 1743-A. Cyber charter school requirements and
prohibitions.
* * *
(e) Students.--For each student enrolled, a cyber charter
school shall:
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(1) provide all instructional materials;
(2) provide all equipment, including, but not limited
to, a computer, computer monitor and printer; [and]
(3) provide or reimburse for all technology and services
necessary for the on-line delivery of the curriculum and
instruction[.]; and
(4) annually conduct an assessment of the student's
achievement to determine whether the level of achievement
satisfies the minimum achievement requirements established by
the task force under section 1704-A to continue enrollment in
the cyber charter school.
The Commonwealth shall not be liable for any reimbursement owed
to students, parents or guardians by a cyber charter school
under paragraph (3).
* * *
Section 1748-A. Enrollment and notification.
* * *
(c) Withdrawal.--
(1) The cyber charter school and the parent or guardian
of a student enrolled in a cyber charter school shall provide
written notification to the student's school district of
residence within 15 days following the withdrawal of a
student from the cyber charter school.
(2) A student who fails, after being assessed in
accordance with section 1743-A(e)(4), to satisfy the minimum
achievement requirements established by the task force under
section 1704-A shall withdraw from the cyber charter school
at the end of the semester in which the assessment occurs and
may not re-enroll in the cyber charter school or enroll in
another cyber charter school unless the student satisfies the
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minimum achievement requirements at least one school year
thereafter.
Section 3. This act shall take effect as follows:
(1) The amendment of sections 1743-A(e) and 1748-A(c) of
the act shall take effect in 180 days.
(2) The remainder of this act shall take effect
immediately.
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