PRINTER'S NO. 22
No. 158 Session of 2007
INTRODUCED BY RHOADES, MUSTO, LAVALLE, C. WILLIAMS, BOSCOLA, RAFFERTY, WASHINGTON, STACK, WOZNIAK, KASUNIC, COSTA, ERICKSON, KITCHEN, STOUT, GREENLEAF, REGOLA AND FERLO, JANUARY 29, 2007
REFERRED TO EDUCATION, JANUARY 29, 2007
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," establishing parent involvement 6 programs and policies in school districts. 7 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania 8 hereby enacts as follows: 9 Section 1. The act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known 10 as the Public School Code of 1949, is amended by adding a 11 section to read: 12 Section 528. Parent Involvement Programs and Policies.--(a) 13 The board of school directors in a school district of the first 14 class, first class A, second class, third class or fourth class 15 shall establish a parent involvement program, parent involvement 16 policy and parent involvement committee. 17 (b) A parent involvement program established by a board of 18 school directors shall include the following: 19 (1) Identification of existing resources, activities or
1 materials in the school district that may be used by parents to 2 improve the academic achievement of students in the school 3 district. 4 (2) Identification of existing resources, activities or 5 materials in the school district that may be used by parents to 6 improve or supplement techniques used by parents at home to 7 support and improve the academic achievement of students in the 8 school district. 9 (3) Identification of a districtwide system of communicating 10 information between parents and school officials regarding the 11 curriculum, academic goals and strategic plan of the school 12 district. 13 (4) Identification of any supplemental academic services 14 available to students whose score on any Pennsylvania System of 15 School Assessment test is below proficient. 16 (5) Identification of any mechanism through which parents 17 can provide recommendations to the board of school directors 18 regarding programs that may improve the academic achievement of 19 students in the school district. 20 (6) Identification of any mechanism through which the school 21 district can provide information to parents regarding resources, 22 activities or materials in the school district that may be used 23 by parents to improve the academic achievement of their 24 students. 25 (c) A parent involvement policy established by a board of 26 school directors shall include the following: 27 (1) Identification of goals and objectives for the 28 involvement of parents in the improvement of the academic 29 achievement of students in the school district. 30 (2) Identification of specific strategies to meet the goals 20070S0158B0022 - 2 -
1 and objectives required under paragraph (1). 2 (3) Explanation of the resources, activities, materials and 3 mechanisms identified in the parent involvement program. 4 (4) Explanation of the role of the parent involvement 5 committee established under subsection (d). 6 (d) A parent involvement committee established by a board of 7 school directors shall consist of parents of students enrolled 8 in the school district and shall be responsible for providing 9 the board of school directors with recommendations on the school 10 district's parent involvement program and parent involvement 11 policy. If a school district currently has established a 12 committee of parents that makes recommendations on school 13 policies, the board of school directors may utilize that 14 committee to meet the requirements of this subsection. 15 (e) A board of school directors shall provide for the 16 publication and dissemination of information related to the 17 school district's parent involvement program and parent 18 involvement policy. The board of school directors shall: 19 (1) Provide a copy of the parent involvement policy to the 20 parents or guardian of each student enrolled in the school 21 district. 22 (2) Make copies of the parent involvement program and parent 23 involvement policy available for inspection in the 24 administrative office of the school district and provide copies 25 upon request. 26 (3) Provide copies of the parent involvement program and 27 parent involvement policy to the Department of Education no 28 later than June 30, 2007. 29 (f) The Department of Education shall establish a 30 clearinghouse of information related to strategies, resources, 20070S0158B0022 - 3 -
1 materials and activities that may assist school districts in 2 establishing the parent involvement program and parent 3 involvement policy required under this section. 4 Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days. A9L24DMS/20070S0158B0022 - 4 -