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 pupils and attendance, further
6providing for definitions and for exceptions to compulsory
7attendance.

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

10Section 1. Section 1326 of the act of March 10, 1949
11(P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, is
12amended to read:

13Section 1326. Definitions.--The term "Commonwealth secondary
14school diploma," as used in this article, shall mean a secondary
15school diploma issued by the Department of Education to an
16applicant who is a resident of this Commonwealth, does not
17possess a secondary school diploma and satisfies one of the
18following:

19(1) Presents evidence of full matriculation and the
20satisfactory completion of a minimum of one (1) full year or
21thirty (30) semester hours of study at an accredited institution

1of postsecondary education.

2(2) Earns a passing score as determined by the Department of
3Education on the high school level tests of general educational
4development while not enrolled in a public, licensed private,
5registered accredited or licensed nonpublic secondary school. A
6person eighteen (18) years of age or older may qualify for
7general educational development testing upon request. A person
8between sixteen (16) and eighteen (18) years of age may qualify
9for general educational development testing upon the issuance of
10a court order or at the written request of one of the following:

11(i) An employer who requires a high school equivalency
12credential for job opportunities.

13(ii) An official of an accredited institution of
14postsecondary education which accepts applicants on the basis of
15general educational development test scores.

16(iii) A recruiting officer of a branch of the armed forces
17that requires a high school equivalency credential for entry of
18new recruits.

19(iv) The director of a State institution on behalf of
20residents, patients or inmates.

21The term "compulsory school age," as hereinafter used, shall
22mean the period of a child's life from the time the child's
23parents elect to have the child enter school, which shall be not
24later than at the age of eight (8) years, until the age of
25[seventeen (17)] eighteen (18) years. The term shall not include
26any child who holds a certificate of graduation from a regularly
27accredited senior high school.

28The term "migratory child," wherever used in this subdivision
29of this article, shall include any child domiciled temporarily
30in any school district for the purpose of seasonal employment,

1but not acquiring residence therein, and any child accompanying
2his parent or guardian who is so domiciled.

3Section 2. Section 1330(1) of the act is amended to read:

4Section 1330. Exceptions to Compulsory Attendance.--The
5provisions of this act requiring regular attendance shall not
6apply to any child who--

7(1) Has attained the age of sixteen (16) years, and who is
8regularly engaged in any useful and lawful employment or service
9during the time the public schools are in session, and who holds
10an employment certificate issued according to law, and, in the 
11case of a child who withdraws from school, who is actively 
12pursuing a Commonwealth secondary school diploma in accordance 
13with regulations which shall be promulgated by the State Board 
14of Education;

15* * *

16Section 3. The regulations required by section 1330(1) of
17the act shall be promulgated within 18 months of the effective
18date of this section.

19Section 4. This act shall take effect in 60 days.