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 Internet instruction where school is closed due
7to weather or other emergency.

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 1505. Internet Instruction Where School is Closed
14Due to Weather or Other Emergency.--(a) Notwithstanding section
151501, prior to the first day of August of each year, a school
16entity may submit to the department a plan to require students
17to access and complete classroom lessons posted on the school
18entity's Internet website in order to make up instructional days
19during the upcoming school year on which the school entity
20determines it is necessary to close due to weather or other

1emergency.

2(b) Under a plan submitted to the department under
3subsection (a), the school entity shall:

4(1) Provide for making up any number of days, up to a
5maximum of three (3) days, through Internet instruction.

6(2) Require each classroom teacher in the school entity, not
7later than November 1 of the school year for which the plan is
8submitted, or not later than December 31 for courses that begin
9after January 1 of the school year, to develop a sufficient
10number of lessons for each course taught by the classroom
11teacher during that school year to permit the number of days
12provided for under the plan to be made up by Internet
13instruction. The classroom teacher shall designate the order in
14which the school entity shall post the lessons on the school
15entity's Internet website in the event of a school closure.

16(3) Require each classroom teacher to update or replace the
17lesson plans developed under paragraph (2) to the extent
18possible and necessary to correspond to instructional progress
19during the school year and require the school entity to post the
20updated or replaced lessons on the school entity's Internet
21website.

22(4) Make the lessons designated by the classroom teacher
23under paragraph (2) or (3) available to students on the school
24entity's Internet website as soon as practicable after the
25announcement of a school closure. The school entity shall post a
26lesson for each course that is scheduled to meet during the
27hours of the closure.

28(5) Subject to subsection (e), allow each student two (2)
29weeks to complete each lesson posted on the Internet website for
30the courses in which the student is enrolled. The student's

1classroom teacher shall grade the lesson in the same manner as
2other lessons assigned or conducted by the classroom teacher and
3may award a student an "incomplete" or "failing" grade for
4lessons that are not completed on time.

5(6) Subject to subsection (e), for those students who do not
6have access to a computer and an Internet connection at the
7student's residence, either of the following:

8(i) Allow the student to work on the posted lessons at
9school after school reopens. The student shall be allowed a two
10(2) week period from the date on which school reopens to
11complete the lessons. The student shall be provided access to a
12computer before, during or after the regularly scheduled school
13day.

14(ii) Provide the student with paper lessons that are
15substantially similar to the lessons posted on the school
16entity's Internet website and allow the student a two (2) week
17period from the date on which school reopens to complete each
18paper lesson.

19(7) Obtain written consent to the plan by the employe
20organization representing the school entity's classroom
21teachers.

22(c) The department shall review plans provided by school
23entities under subsection (b) and shall grant written approval
24of any plan which satisfies the requirements of this section
25within thirty (30) days of submission of the plan to the
26department.

27(d) Days for which a school entity provides Internet
28instruction pursuant to a plan approved by the department under
29subsection (c) shall be considered instructional days for
30purposes of section 1501.

1(e) Nothing in this section or any plan approved by the
2department under this section shall conflict with:

3(1) Federal or State law regarding the protections provided
4to a student with a disability for receiving education in the
5least restrictive environment.

6(2) The legal authority of an individualized education
7program team to make appropriate program and placement decisions
8for a student with a disability in accordance with the student's
9individualized education program.

10(f) As used in this section, the following terms shall have
11the meanings given to them in this subsection unless the context
12clearly indicates otherwise:

13"Classroom teacher." A professional employe, temporary
14professional employe or substitute as such terms are defined in
15section 1101 who provides direct instruction to students related
16to a specific subject or grade level.

17"Department." The Department of Education of the
18Commonwealth.

19"Internet instruction." Lessons posted on a school entity's
20Internet website which students are required to access and
21complete in order to make up instructional days on which the
22school entity is closed due to weather or other emergency.

23"School entity." A school district, joint school district,
24intermediate unit, area vocational-technical school, charter
25school or regional charter school. The term shall not include a
26cyber charter school.

27Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.