PRINTER'S NO. 4429
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 20060H2857B4429 - 2 -
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 20060H2857B4429 - 3 -
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. E31L24DMS/20060H2857B4429 - 4 -