PRINTER'S NO. 1604
No. 1295 Session of 2003
INTRODUCED BY SURRA, MAY 5, 2003
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, MAY 5, 2003
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 continuing
6 professional development and for program of continuing
7 professional education.
8 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
9 hereby enacts as follows:
10 Section 1. Section 1205.1 of the act of March 10, 1949
11 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, is
12 amended by adding a subsection to read:
13 Section 1205.1. Continuing Professional Development.--* * *
14 (c.5) The department may, in the case of a school entity
15 having a minimum of thirty-five per centum (35%) of its students
16 eligible for the free or reduced price meal programs under the
17 National School Lunch Act (60 Stat. 230, 42 U.S.C. § 1751 et
18 seq.), provide funding to the school entity in order for the
19 school entity to provide at least eight (8) days of professional
20 development or an hourly equivalent of eight (8) days of
1 professional development each school year. Funds provided by the
2 department shall only be used for professional development
3 training to address the following areas and shall not be used
4 for any other purpose:
5 (1) Training in math, science and literacy-specific
6 curriculum and instructional strategies.
7 (2) Collaboration across disciplines and the integration of
8 literacy strategies within other subject areas, including the
9 arts.
10 (3) School-wide improvement planning.
11 (4) Analysis of student achievement data, including student
12 work, and the implications for classroom practice.
13 (5) Observation and study of exemplary school and classroom
14 practices.
15 (6) School-wide programs and classroom management strategies
16 designed to improve student conduct.
17 (7) The use of technology to boost student achievement.
18 (8) Transition planning and curriculum alignment across
19 schools and grade levels.
20 (9) Secondary strategies to increase student engagement and
21 personalize learning.
22 (10) Professional development that is specific to the
23 implementation of strategies outlined in the programs covered by
24 Article XXV-A and XXV-B.
25 * * *
26 Section 2. Section 1205.2(a) of the act, added November 23,
27 1999 (P.L.529, No.48), is amended and the section is amended by
28 adding a subsection to read:
29 Section 1205.2. Program of Continuing Professional
30 Education.--(a) A continuing professional education program is
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1 hereby established for professional educators, the satisfactory
2 completion of which is required to maintain active
3 certification. [The] Except as otherwise set forth in subsection
4 (a.1), the continuing professional education program shall
5 require the satisfactory completion of continuing professional
6 education every five (5) years, which shall include:
7 (1) six (6) credits of collegiate study;
8 (2) six (6) credits of continuing professional education
9 courses;
10 (3) one hundred eighty (180) hours of continuing
11 professional education programs, activities or learning
12 experiences; or
13 (4) any combination of collegiate studies, continuing
14 professional education courses, or other programs, activities or
15 learning experiences equivalent to one hundred eighty (180)
16 hours.
17 (a.1) In addition to the provisions of subsection (a), a
18 professional education plan of a school entity having a minimum
19 of thirty-five percentum (35%) of its students eligible for the
20 free or reduced price meal programs under the National School
21 Lunch Act (60 Stat. 230, 42 U.S.C. § 1751 et seq.) may require
22 the satisfactory completion of additional continuing
23 professional education every five (5) years, targeted towards
24 the priorities set forth in the professional education plan in
25 accordance with the provisions of section 1205.1(c.3) which
26 shall not exceed:
27 (1) six (6) credits of collegiate study;
28 (2) six (6) credits of continuing professional education
29 courses;
30 (3) one hundred eighty (180) hours of continuing
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1 professional education programs, activities or learning
2 experiences; or
3 (4) any combination of collegiate studies, continuing
4 professional education courses, or other programs, activities or
5 learning experiences equivalent to one hundred eighty (180)
6 hours.
7 * * *
8 Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2003, or
9 immediately, whichever is later.
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