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                                                      PRINTER'S NO. 4429

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA


HOUSE BILL

No. 2857 Session of 2006


        INTRODUCED BY STAIRS, HERMAN, GRUCELA, PALLONE, STURLA,
           YUDICHAK, BELFANTI, BOYD, CALTAGIRONE, CAPPELLI, COHEN,
           CRAHALLA, FLAHERTY, FREEMAN, GEIST, HESS, McGILL, MICOZZIE,
           PYLE, RUBLEY, SIPTROTH, TANGRETTI, E. Z. TAYLOR, TIGUE AND
           WANSACZ, JUNE 29, 2006

        REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, JUNE 29, 2006

                                     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 advanced placement
     6     courses; further providing for Pennsylvania accountability
     7     grants; and making an appropriation.

     8     The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
     9  hereby enacts as follows:
    10     Section 1.  The act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known
    11  as the Public School Code of 1949, is amended by adding a
    12  section to read:
    13     Section 1551.  Advanced Placement Courses.--(a) (1)  By the
    14  2009-2010 school year, each school district shall maintain a
    15  high school curriculum that includes no less than one (1)
    16  optional advanced placement course in the core subject areas of
    17  English, mathematics and science.
    18     (2)  Beginning with the 2007-2008 school year, each school
    19  district may add one (1) advanced placement course in any of the

     1  three (3) subject areas.
     2     (b)  (1)  An advanced placement course shall be taught by a
     3  professional educator trained at a College Board-endorsed
     4  advanced placement summer training institute or online as
     5  provided under subsection (g)(2). The professional educator
     6  shall attend such training at least every five (5) years in
     7  order to maintain the professional educator's eligibility to
     8  teach the advanced placement course.
     9     (2)  Attendance at an advanced placement summer training
    10  institute or online as provided in subsection (g)(2) shall count
    11  toward compliance with the continuing professional education
    12  requirements set forth under section 1205.2(a)(3) or (4).
    13     (3)  Any school that is unable to meet the stated deadlines
    14  through no fault of its own may apply to the Secretary of
    15  Education for a waiver to extend the time frame to meet the
    16  requirement.
    17     (c)  The school district shall use in its advanced placement
    18  courses syllabi approved and monitored by the College Board.
    19     (d)  The content offered in advanced placement courses shall
    20  include information tested on advanced placement examinations
    21  administered by the College Board.
    22     (e)  No student enrolled in an advanced placement course
    23  shall be required to take an advanced placement examination
    24  administered by the College Board.
    25     (f)  A school district may utilize any funds obtained under
    26  section 2599.2 or otherwise made available to it by the
    27  Commonwealth to:
    28     (1)  Provide financial assistance to professional educators
    29  for attendance at advanced placement summer training institutes.
    30     (2)  Contribute to and participate in a clearinghouse for the
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     1  collection and dissemination of syllabi to other high schools,
     2  which shall be deemed reviewed and approved by the College
     3  Board.
     4     (3)  Pay the fee charged to students for taking advanced
     5  placement examinations administered by the College Board,
     6  provided that the students qualify for free or reduced-price
     7  meals under the Federal school lunch and breakfast programs.
     8     (4)  Assist school districts that are unable to meet the
     9  2009-2010 deadline for offering advanced placement courses, by
    10  providing distance learning in the acquisition of advanced
    11  placement courses.
    12     (g)  The Department of Education shall support the program
    13  by:
    14     (1)  Providing technical assistance to high schools for
    15  incorporating advanced placement syllabi and materials in the
    16  course content and design.
    17     (2)  Collaborating with advanced placement summer training
    18  institutes to offer online courses over the Internet to
    19  professional educators who seek eligibility for teaching
    20  advanced placement courses. The online courses shall utilize the
    21  content of the advanced placement summer training institutes.
    22     (3)  Developing a clearinghouse for submission of high school
    23  syllabi that meet the approval of the College Board.
    24     (4)  Disseminating, upon request, syllabi approved for use in
    25  the advanced placement courses of high school English,
    26  mathematics and science courses.
    27     Section 2.  Section 2599.2(b) of the act, amended July 13,
    28  2005 (P.L.226, No.46), is amended by adding a paragraph to read:
    29     Section 2599.2.  Pennsylvania Accountability Grants.--* * *
    30     (b)  The grant shall be used by a school district to attain
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     1  or maintain academic performance targets. Funds obtained under
     2  this section may be used for any of the following:
     3     * * *
     4     (10.1)  Complying with the advanced placement course
     5  provisions of section 1551.
     6     * * *
     7     Section 3.  The sum of $750,000 is hereby appropriated to the
     8  Department of Education for the purpose of providing student
     9  advanced placement examination assistance during the 2006-2007
    10  school year as authorized under section 1551(f)(3) of the act.
    11     Section 4.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2006, or
    12  immediately, whichever is later.












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