PRINTER'S NO. 1156
No. 1003 Session of 1983
INTRODUCED BY SAURMAN, HALUSKA, E. Z. TAYLOR, VROON, NAHILL,
McCLATCHY, HAGARTY, MAIALE, MICHLOVIC, FARGO, COLAFELLA,
SIRIANNI, GLADECK AND BUNT, MAY 11, 1983
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, MAY 11, 1983
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 courses of
6 instruction.
7 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
8 hereby enacts as follows:
9 Section 1. Section 290.1 of the act of March 10, 1949
10 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, added
11 August 8, 1963 (P.L.564, No.299), is amended to read:
12 Section 290.1. Educational Performance Standards.--[To
13 implement the purpose of this subdivision, the State Board of
14 Education, as soon as possible and in any event no later than
15 July 1, 1965, shall develop or cause to be developed an
16 evaluation procedure designed to measure objectively the
17 adequacy and efficiency of the educational programs offered by
18 the public schools of the Commonwealth. The evaluation procedure
19 to be developed shall include tests measuring the achievements
1 and performance of students pursuing all of the various subjects
2 and courses comprising the curricula. The evaluation procedure
3 shall be so constructed and developed as to provide each school
4 district with relevant comparative data to enable directors and
5 administrators to more readily appraise the educational
6 performance and to effectuate without delay the strengthening of
7 the district's educational program. Tests developed under the
8 authority of this section to be administered to pupils shall be
9 used for the purpose of providing a uniform evaluation of each
10 school district and the other purposes set forth in this
11 subdivision. The State Board of Education shall devise
12 performance standards upon the completion of the evaluation
13 procedure required by this section.] (a) The twelve goals of
14 quality education heretofore promulgated by the State Board of
15 Education pursuant to this section and in effect on the
16 effective date of this amendatory act are hereby rescinded. The
17 Department of Education, within one (1) year of the effective
18 date of this amendatory act, shall develop, cause to be
19 developed or select commercially available tests designed to
20 measure objectively cognitive development and educational
21 performance in reading, writing, arithmetic or mathematics and
22 science. These tests shall be administered to all public school
23 students in the Commonwealth in the fifth, eighth and eleventh
24 grades. Students defined as exceptional under section 1371 shall
25 be exempt from the provisions of this section but may
26 participate at the written request of a parent or guardian.
27 (b) Tests administered at the fifth and eighth grade levels
28 shall be utilized by all school districts to measure relative
29 student performance and to assist in the development of and
30 placement of students in remedial education programs.
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1 (c) Satisfactory performance as determined by the department
2 on the test administered in the eleventh grade shall be a basic
3 prerequisite for receiving a high school diploma. A student
4 failing the eleventh grade test shall immediately be placed in
5 appropriate remediation programs to enable successful
6 performance on the test. A student failing the eleventh grade
7 test the first time shall be permitted to retake the test on a
8 minimum of three (3) separate occasions during his senior year
9 of high school when the district shall offer it. If a student
10 fails to pass the test on all of these occasions, he shall not
11 receive a high school diploma. The graduation requirements
12 established herein shall take effect for the school year
13 commencing four (4) years after the development or selection by
14 the department of appropriate testing instruments.
15 (d) Results of the test administered in the fifth, eighth
16 and eleventh grades shall be made available to parents or
17 guardians upon written request to the principal of the school in
18 which the student is enrolled. The board of school directors in
19 each school district shall determine which school district
20 personnel may have access to the test results.
21 Section 2. Section 1511 of the act is repealed.
22 Section 3. The act is amended by adding a section to read:
23 Section 1511.1. Mandated and Required Programs or Courses of
24 Study.--(a) The mandated programs or courses of study are as
25 follows:
26 (1) Elementary school level.--English, to include spelling,
27 reading and writing, arithmetic, science, geography, history of
28 the United States and Pennsylvania, civics, safety education,
29 including regular and continuous instruction in the dangers and
30 prevention of fires, comprehensive health education, physical
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1 education, energy and environmental education, music and art.
2 (2) Secondary school level.--English, to include reading,
3 language, literature, speech and composition, science, to
4 include biology, physics and chemistry, geography, social
5 studies, to include civics, economics, world history, United
6 States history and Pennsylvania history, foreign languages,
7 mathematics, to include general mathematics and statistics,
8 algebra, geometry and trigonometry, industrial arts, home
9 economics, art, music, physical education, energy and
10 environmental education, comprehensive health education and
11 safety education, including regular and continuous instruction
12 in the dangers and prevention of fires. The program of health
13 and physiology shall include instruction concerning the causes,
14 effects, prevention and treatment of drug and alcohol abuse and
15 the undesirability of the abuse of these substances.
16 (b) The State board shall designate which of the mandated
17 programs or courses of study shall be required of all students
18 or of all students in certain grade levels. The following
19 minimum high school graduation requirements are hereby
20 established:
21 (1) Four (4) years of english.
22 (2) Three (3) years of mathematics.
23 (3) One-half (1/2) year of computer science.
24 (4) Three (3) years of science.
25 (5) Three (3) years of social studies.
26 (c) The certificate of any principal or teacher-in-charge of
27 any nonpublic school operated by or under the authority of bona
28 fide religious institutions setting forth that the work of the
29 school is in compliance with the programs or courses stated in
30 subsection (a) shall be sufficient and satisfactory evidence
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1 thereof.
2 Section 4. Section 1512 of the act is repealed.
3 Section 5. The act is amended by adding a section to read:
4 Section 1512.1. Development of Additional Programs or
5 Courses of Study.--(a) The board of school directors, with the
6 advice of the superintendent of schools, shall develop such
7 programs or courses of study in addition to those referred to in
8 this article as may be necessary to meet local needs or
9 conditions.
10 (b) Courses in the literature of the Bible and other
11 religious writings, to be prepared and adopted according to age
12 levels by the department, with the advice and counsel of the
13 Council of Basic Education and the approval of the State board,
14 may be introduced and studied as regular courses in the
15 literature branch of education in the secondary public schools.
16 These courses shall be elective and not required of any student.
17 Section 6. Section 1513 of the act is repealed.
18 Section 7. The act is amended by adding a section to read:
19 Section 1513.1. Language Used in Teaching Subjects.--All
20 subjects, except foreign languages, shall be taught in the
21 English language and from English texts in compliance with State
22 board regulations and department standards. The teaching of
23 subjects in a language other than English may be permitted as
24 part of a sequence in foreign language study if the teaching
25 personnel are properly certified in the subject fields.
26 Section 8. Section 1514 of the act is repealed.
27 Section 9. The act is amended by adding a section to read:
28 Section 1514.1. Display of United States Flag.--The
29 governing board of each school entity shall display a United
30 States flag upon or near each public school building in clement
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1 weather, during school hours and at such other times as the
2 board may determine.
3 (b) All boards of school directors, all proprietors or
4 principals of nonpublic schools and all authorities in control
5 of nonpublic schools or other educational institutions shall
6 display the United States flag, not less than three (3) feet in
7 length, within all school buildings under their control during
8 each day the schools are in session.
9 (c) Each school shall provide and distribute to each student
10 enrolled in the eighth grade of the public schools, one
11 illustrated copy of the National Flag Code, and shall, from time
12 to time, make available such copies as are necessary for the
13 replacements from year to year. It shall be the duty of each
14 teacher in the public schools to make such use of the code as he
15 may, from time to time, see proper.
16 Section 10. Section 1515 of the act is repealed.
17 Section 11. The act is amended by adding a section to read:
18 Section 1515.1. Program for Development of Citizenship and
19 Patriotism.--(a) All administrators and teachers in charge of
20 public and nonpublic schools shall establish and direct the
21 conduct of appropriate daily instruction or ceremonies, or in
22 lieu thereof, at least one full period per week, for the purpose
23 of affirming and developing all allegiance to and respect for
24 the flag of the United States of America, and for promoting of a
25 clear understanding of our American way of life, with all of the
26 unparalleled individual opportunities, and our republican form
27 of government, with its responsiveness to majority decisions and
28 demands.
29 (b) The program shall include:
30 (1) Instruction in the fundamental principles of our form of
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1 government.
2 (2) An understanding of the provisions of the Constitution
3 of Pennsylvania and the Constitution of the United States of
4 America.
5 (3) The values to be found in the freedom of speech, of
6 religion and of the press.
7 (4) The values to be found in obedience to the laws of the
8 land and this Commonwealth.
9 (5) The importance of exercising the right of franchise.
10 (6) The obligation of every citizen to stand ready to defend
11 his country at all times from infiltration or aggression by
12 those acts and ideologies that are contrary to the American
13 philosophy of life.
14 Section 12. Sections 1516 and 1516.1 of the act are
15 repealed.
16 Section 13. The act is amended by adding a section to read:
17 Section 1516.2. Periods for Prayer and Meditation.--(a) In
18 each public school classroom, the teacher in charge may, or if
19 so authorized or directed by the governing board by which he is
20 employed, shall, at the opening of school upon every school day,
21 conduct a brief period of silent prayer or meditation with the
22 participation of all the students therein assembled.
23 (b) The silent prayer or mediation authorized by subsection
24 (a) is not intended to be, and shall not be conducted as, a
25 religious service or exercise, but shall be considered as an
26 opportunity for silent prayer or mediation on a religious theme
27 by those who are so disposed, or a moment of silent reflection
28 on the anticipated activities of the day.
29 Section 14. Sections 1517 and 1518 of the act are repealed.
30 Section 15. This act shall take effect immediately.
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