THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE BILL

INTRODUCED BY BROWN, BISHOP, BRIGGS, FREEMAN, JOHNSON, JOSEPHS, KORTZ, MANN, MIRABITO, MURPHY, M. O'BRIEN, PARKER, PASHINSKI, SANTONI, SIPTROTH, YOUNGBLOOD AND O'NEILL, MARCH 26, 2009

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, MARCH 26, 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," further providing for the powers and

duties of the State Board of Education.

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

hereby enacts as follows:

Section 1.  Section 2603-B(a) of the act of March 10, 1949

(P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, added

March 30, 1988 (P.L.321, No.43), is amended to read:

Section 2603-B.  Powers and Duties of the Board.--(a)  The

board shall have the power, and its duty shall be, to review the

statements of policy, standards, rules and regulations

formulated by the Council of Basic Education and the Council of

Higher Education, and adopt broad policies and principles, and

establish standards governing the educational program of the

Commonwealth. Standards under this subsection shall include the

development of a program for teaching world languages throughout

the elementary and secondary curricula. Nothing in this section

shall be construed as either requiring or precluding the

adoption, by the board, of world language standards which would

require a demonstration of proficiency as a graduation

requirement or participation of all students in a world language

program.

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