PRINTER'S NO. 75
No. 74 Session of 1981
INTRODUCED BY FREIND, JANUARY 19, 1981
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, JANUARY 19, 1981
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," further providing for the minimum
6 number of days schools are required to be kept open.
7 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
8 hereby enacts as follows:
9 Section 1. Section 1501, act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30,
10 No.14), known as the "Public School Code of 1949," amended June
11 30, 1980 (No.80), is amended to read:
12 Section 1501. Minimum Number of Days; School Month.--(a)
13 (1) All public kindergartens, elementary and secondary schools
14 shall be kept open each school year for at least one hundred
15 eighty (180) days of instruction for pupils. No days on which
16 the schools are closed shall be counted as days taught, and no
17 time shall be counted as a pupil session for any activity to
18 which admission is charged. No school district shall be required
19 to change its graduation schedule or require graduating students
1 to return to school after graduation to make up class days lost
2 due to severe weather conditions or, in the school year 1979-
3 1980 for situations beyond the control of the school district as
4 a result of major construction and renovation to the school
5 building. No district which makes a bona fide effort as
6 determined by the Secretary of Education to provide one hundred
7 eighty (180) days of instruction for graduating students shall
8 receive less subsidy payments or reimbursements than it would
9 otherwise be entitled to receive on account of the school year
10 because of the provisions of this section. Unless otherwise
11 provided by this act, the board of school directors in any
12 district or joint board may keep such other schools or
13 departments as it may establish open during such time as it may
14 direct.
15 (2) Twenty days of actual teaching shall constitute a school
16 month.
17 (b) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a), in any
18 school year in which there is a strike by school district
19 employes against the district which results in the district's
20 schools being closed, the board of school directors may elect to
21 keep its schools open for less than the one hundred eighty (180)
22 days required by subsection (a). If the board so elects, its
23 subsidy payments shall be proportionately reduced for such year
24 and its professional employes shall have their annual salaries
25 reduced proportionately.
26 Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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