PRINTER'S NO. 1427
No. 1153 Session of 1999
INTRODUCED BY SALVATORE, GERLACH, COSTA, BOSCOLA, SLOCUM,
RHOADES AND KASUNIC, OCTOBER 20, 1999
REFERRED TO EDUCATION, OCTOBER 20, 1999
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," establishing a comprehensive
6 character education program to discourage bullying and
7 violent acts against fellow students; and providing for
8 assignment of certain students to alternative schools.
9 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
10 hereby enacts as follows:
11 Section 1. The act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known
12 as the Public School Code of 1949, is amended by adding a
13 section to read:
14 Section 1514.1. Character Education.--(a) The board of
15 school directors in every school district, with the advice and
16 assistance of the appropriate superintendent of schools, shall
17 establish and arrange for the teaching of a comprehensive
18 character education program in grades kindergarten through
19 twelve, which shall focus on development of the following
20 character traits: courage, patriotism, citizenship, honesty,
1 fairness, respect for others, kindness, cooperation, self-
2 respect, self-control, courtesy, compassion, tolerance,
3 diligence, generosity, punctuality, cleanliness, cheerfulness,
4 school pride, respect for the environment, respect for the
5 creator, patience, creativity, sportsmanship, loyalty,
6 perseverance and virtue. Such program shall also address methods
7 of discouraging bullying and violent acts against fellow
8 students.
9 (b) The board of school directors in every school district,
10 with the advice and assistance of the appropriate superintendent
11 of schools, shall adopt policies for grades six through twelve
12 to prohibit bullying of a student by another student and shall
13 require such prohibition to be included in the student code of
14 conduct for all appropriate schools in that school system. Local
15 board policies shall require that, upon a finding that a student
16 has committed the offense of bullying for the third time in a
17 school year, such student shall be assigned to an alternative
18 school. Each local board of education shall ensure that students
19 and parents of students are notified of the prohibition against
20 bullying and the penalties for violating the prohibition, by
21 posting such information at each school and by including such
22 information in writing to each student and parent.
23 (c) As used in this section, the term "bullying" means any
24 wilful attempt or threat to inflict injury on a student
25 accompanied by an apparent present ability to do so or any
26 intentional display of force that would give the victim reason
27 to fear or expect immediate bodily harm.
28 Section 2. The provisions of this act shall be implemented
29 not later than the beginning of the school year 2000-2001.
30 Section 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
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