THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE BILL

INTRODUCED BY BURNS, BEYER, BROWN, D. COSTA, GIBBONS, GRUCELA, HALUSKA, JOSEPHS, KIRKLAND, KORTZ, McGEEHAN, MURT, M. O'BRIEN, SIPTROTH, STABACK, STURLA, WATERS AND YUDICHAK, MARCH 3, 2009

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, MARCH 3, 2009  

AN ACT

Amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), entitled "An

act relating to the public school system, including certain

provisions applicable as well to private and parochial

schools; amending, revising, consolidating and changing the

laws relating thereto," establishing parent involvement

programs and policies in school districts.

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

hereby enacts as follows:

Section 1.  The act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known

as the Public School Code of 1949, is amended by adding a

section to read:

Section 528.  Parent Involvement Programs and Policies.--(a)

The board of school directors in a school district of the first

class, first class A, second class, third class or fourth class

shall establish a parent involvement program, parent involvement

policy and parent involvement committee.

(b)  A parent involvement program established by a board of

school directors shall include the following:

(1)  Identification of existing resources, activities or

materials in the school district that may be used by parents to

improve the academic achievement of students in the school

district.

(2)  Identification of existing resources, activities or

materials in the school district that may be used by parents to

improve or supplement techniques used by parents at home to

support and improve the academic achievement of students in the

school district.

(3)  Identification of a districtwide system of communicating

information between parents and school officials regarding the

curriculum, academic goals and strategic plan of the school

district.

(4)  Identification of any supplemental academic services

available to students whose score on any Pennsylvania System of

School Assessment test is below proficient.

(5)  Identification of any mechanism through which parents

can provide recommendations to the board of school directors

regarding programs that may improve the academic achievement of

students in the school district.

(6)  Identification of any mechanism through which the school

district can provide information to parents regarding resources,

activities or materials in the school district that may be used

by parents to improve the academic achievement of their

students.

(c)  A parent involvement policy established by a board of

school directors shall include the following:

(1)  Identification of goals and objectives for the

involvement of parents in the improvement of the academic

achievement of students in the school district.

(2)  Identification of specific strategies to meet the goals

and objectives required under paragraph (1).

(3)  Explanation of the resources, activities, materials and

mechanisms identified in the parent involvement program.

(4)  Explanation of the role of the parent involvement

committee established under subsection (d).

(d)  A parent involvement committee established by a board of

school directors shall consist of parents of students enrolled

in the school district and shall be responsible for providing

the board of school directors with recommendations on the school

district's parent involvement program and parent involvement

policy. If a school district currently has established a

committee of parents that makes recommendations on school

policies, the board of school directors may utilize that

committee to meet the requirements of this subsection.

(e)  A board of school directors shall provide for the

publication and dissemination of information related to the

school district's parent involvement program and parent

involvement policy. The board of school directors shall:

(1)  Provide a copy of the parent involvement policy to the

parents or guardian of each student enrolled in the school

district.

(2)  Make copies of the parent involvement program and parent

involvement policy available for inspection in the

administrative office of the school district and provide copies

upon request.

(3)  Provide copies of the parent involvement program and

parent involvement policy to the Department of Education no

later than sixty (60) days from the effective date of this

section.

Section 2.  This act shall take effect in 60 days.