AN ACT

 

1Amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), entitled "An
2act relating to the public school system, including certain
3provisions applicable as well to private and parochial
4schools; amending, revising, consolidating and changing the
5laws relating thereto," in terms and courses of study,
6providing for Holocaust, genocide and human rights violations
7instruction.

8The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
9hereby enacts as follows:

10Section 1. The act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known
11as the Public School Code of 1949, is amended by adding a
12section to read:

13Section 1554. Holocaust, Genocide and Human Rights
14Violations Instruction.--(a) (1) Beginning with school year
152015-2016, each school entity may offer instruction in the
16Holocaust, genocide and human rights violations to students in
17grade six through grade twelve. If offered by the school entity,
18the instruction shall be integrated within the social studies
19and language arts courses of study required in accordance with

1State Board of Education regulations. Instruction may also be
2integrated into other appropriate courses of study.

3(2) The Holocaust, genocide and human rights violations
4instruction permitted pursuant to paragraph (1) shall:

5(i) Be age appropriate.

6(ii) Be sequential in method of study.

7(iii) Communicate the connection between national, ethnic,
8racial or religious intolerance and the subjects described in
9subsection (b).

10(iv) Communicate the impact of personal responsibility,
11civic engagement and societal response within the context of the
12subjects described in subsection (b).

13(3) School entities may utilize any appropriate public or
14private materials, personnel and other resources in developing
15and implementing the program of instruction permitted pursuant
16to paragraph (1). The Department of Education shall make
17available information about appropriate curriculum materials
18upon request of a school entity. School entities that offer the
19instruction permitted pursuant to paragraph (1) may utilize any
20curriculum that complies with the requirements of this
21subsection.

22(b) (1) The Department of Education shall establish
23curriculum guidelines no later than twelve (12) months after the
24effective date of this section. The guidelines shall encourage
25the inclusion of all of the following subjects where appropriate
26in the instruction:

27(i) The breadth of the history of the Holocaust, including
28the Third Reich dictatorship, concentration camp system,
29persecution of Jews and non-Jews, Jewish and non-Jewish
30resistance and post-World War II trials.

1(ii) The definition, history, response and actions taken in
2the face of genocide, including the Holocaust and any other
3genocide perpetrated against humanity.

4(iii) Human rights violations.

5(iv) Anti-Semitism, racism and the abridgment of civil
6rights.

7(2) The Department of Education may work in consultation
8with organizations that provide educational resources related to
9the Holocaust, genocide and human rights violations to develop
10the curriculum guidelines.

11(c) Beginning with the 2015-2016 school year, the Department
12of Education shall make available, to all school entities, in-
13service training programs based upon the instruction permitted
14pursuant to subsection (a) and the curriculum guidelines
15established pursuant to subsection (b).

16(d) (1) Beginning with the 2015-2016 school year, each
17school entity that offers the instruction permitted pursuant to
18subsection (a) shall provide, as part of its in-service
19training, programs on the Holocaust, genocide and human rights
20violations for all instructors whose teaching responsibilities
21include courses of study in which instruction concerning the
22Holocaust, genocide and human rights violations is integrated. A
23school entity may utilize the programs made available by the
24Department of Education or use other alternative programs that
25are consistent with the provisions of this section.

26(2) Employes required to complete continuing professional
27education under section 1205.2 shall receive credit toward the
28continuing professional education requirements where the
29training program provided pursuant to paragraph (1) has been
30approved by the Department of Education.

1(e) The Department of Education shall provide the
2guidelines, in-service training and any other materials
3developed in accordance with this section to any nonpublic
4school within this Commonwealth upon receiving a request from
5the nonpublic school.

6(f) The State Board of Education shall adopt rules and
7regulations necessary for the implementation of this section
8pursuant to the act of June 25, 1982 (P.L.633, No.181), known as
9the "Regulatory Review Act."

10(g) For purposes of this section, the term "school entity"
11shall mean a school district, charter school, regional charter
12school, cyber charter school, intermediate unit or area
13vocational-technical school.

14Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.