PRINTER'S NO. 1852
No. 1518 Session of 2005
INTRODUCED BY BISHOP, CORRIGAN, READSHAW, STABACK, CALTAGIRONE,
LEDERER, BEBKO-JONES, ROEBUCK, YOUNGBLOOD, PISTELLA, WALKO,
KIRKLAND, JAMES AND BLACKWELL, MAY 3, 2005
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, MAY 3, 2005
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," providing for violence programs.
6 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
7 hereby enacts as follows:
8 Section 1. The act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known
9 as the Public School Code of 1949, is amended by adding a
10 section to read:
11 Section 1551. Violence Program.--(a) Each public school
12 student shall receive mandatory instruction in prevention of
13 violence in society in general and in schools in particular in
14 every grade from kindergarten through grade twelve. The
15 instruction shall be integrated within the health course of
16 study required in accordance with the State Board of Education
17 regulations. In grades where health is offered, instruction may
18 also be integrated into other appropriate courses of study. In
19 grades where health is not offered, instruction shall be
1 integrated into an appropriate curriculum requirement.
2 (1) This instruction:
3 (i) Shall be age appropriate.
4 (ii) Shall be sequential in method of study.
5 (iii) Shall explain the causes of violence.
6 (iv) Shall espouse the rejection of violence in society in
7 general and in schools in particular.
8 (2) School districts may utilize any appropriate public or
9 private materials, personnel and other resources in developing
10 and implementing this program of instruction. The Pennsylvania
11 State Police shall make available information about appropriate
12 curriculum materials upon request of a school district.
13 (b) Each school district is authorized to develop and offer
14 instruction and discussion relating to this program for parents
15 of students enrolled in the public schools.
16 (c) The Department of Education shall develop curriculum
17 guidelines for this program.
18 (d) The Department of Education shall make available to all
19 school districts and intermediate units in-service training
20 programs based upon the instruction requirements established in
21 subsection (a) and the curriculum guidelines established in
22 subsection (c).
23 (e) Each school district shall provide, as part of its in-
24 service training, programs on violence for all instructors whose
25 teaching responsibilities include courses of study in which
26 mandated instruction concerning violence is integrated. To
27 comply with this requirement, a school district may utilize the
28 programs made available by the Department of Education or use
29 other alternative programs.
30 (f) The governing board of each intermediate unit in which a
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1 nonpublic school is located shall have the authority and the
2 duty to loan to all students attending nonpublic schools within
3 the intermediate unit all educational materials developed by the
4 Department of Education pursuant to this section. Local school
5 boards need not expend funds which are not provided by either
6 the Federal Government or State government for the use or loan
7 of these materials. A nonpublic school may utilize the in-
8 service training programs made available by the Department of
9 Education through the intermediate unit.
10 Section 2. The addition of section 1551 of the act shall
11 apply to school years which begin after the effective date of
12 this section.
13 Section 3. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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