THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

SENATE BILL

INTRODUCED BY GREENLEAF, FONTANA, WASHINGTON, MUSTO AND ALLOWAY, APRIL 27, 2009

REFERRED TO EDUCATION, APRIL 27, 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," in duties and powers of boards of

school directors, further providing for kindergartens.

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

hereby enacts as follows:

Section 1.  Section 503 of the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30,

No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, amended

September 21, 1959 (P.L.925, No.373) and October 21, 1965

(P.L.601, No.312), is amended to read:

Section 503.  Kindergartens.--(a)  The board of school

directors in any school district may establish and maintain

kindergartens for children between the ages of [four] three and

six years. When established, the kindergartens shall be an

integral part of the elementary school system of the district,

and be kept open for not less than two and one-half hours each

day for the full school term as provided in section 1501.

(b)  The number of kindergartens in any one district shall be

fixed by the board of school directors, and shall be open during

the school year. When established, kindergartens shall be

available to all children residing in the school district who

are of the age fixed under subsection (a) of this section.

[If the average attendance in any one kindergarten in any

district is ten or less for the school year, the school

directors shall, at the close of the school year, discontinue

the same.]

(c)  The board of school directors shall appoint and assign a

sufficient number of teachers to such kindergartens, who shall

be certified in accordance with the rules and regulations

prescribed by the [Council of Basic Education] State Board of

Education.

Section 2.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2009, or

immediately, whichever is later.