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, adding 
6winter emergency provisions and further providing for days 
7schools not to be kept open.

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

10Section 1. Sections 1501.7(a), (b), (d), (g) and (h) and
111502(c) of the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as
12the Public School Code of 1949, amended or added May 6, 1966
13(P.L.150, No.28), are amended to read:

14Section 1501.7. Weather [Emergency] Emergencies of 1996 and 
152014.--(a) This section applies only to the school year 1995-
161996 as a result of the weather emergency of 1996 and to the 
17school year 2013-2014 as a result of the weather emergency of 
182014.

19(b) All school entities shall keep open for at least one
20hundred eighty (180) days of instruction for students by using

1all available days through June 30, 1996, for the school year 
21995-1996 and all available days through June 30, 2014, for the 
3school year 2013-2014 and by using the provisions of this
4section and section 1502(c).

5* * *

6(d) For purposes of computing instructional time pursuant to
7this section, the Secretary of Education shall calculate
8instructional days or time related to the weather emergency of
91996 or 2014 prior to calculating any other lost instructional
10time.

11* * *

12(g) No temporary professional or professional employe of any
13school closed by reason of the weather emergency of 1996 or 2014
14shall receive more or less compensation than that to which the
15employe would otherwise have been entitled to receive from the
16school entity had the weather emergency of 1996 or 2014 not
17occurred.

18(h) No school entity which was closed because of the weather
19emergency of 1996 or 2014 and which makes a good faith effort,
20as determined by the Secretary of Education, to meet the
21requirements of this section shall receive less subsidy payments
22or reimbursements than it would otherwise be entitled to receive
23for the school year 1995-1996 had the weather emergency of 1996
24not occurred or for the school year 2013-2014 had the weather 
25emergency of 2014 not occurred.

26* * *

27Section 1502. Days Schools not to be Kept Open.--* * *

28(c) For the school [year] years 1995-1996 and 2013-2014
29only, the board of school directors of a school district, 
30intermediate unit or area vocational-technical school and the
 

1board of trustees of a charter school shall have the option of
2rescheduling instructional days on Saturday, but for not more
3than one Saturday per month, to make up instructional days lost
4from the adopted school calendar because school was closed as a
5result of the weather emergency of 1996 or 2014, respectively.
6In those cases where a board of school directors or board of 
7trustees chooses to reschedule instructional days on Saturdays
8in accordance with the provisions of this section, schools
9within such board's jurisdiction shall not schedule tests or
10examinations on these Saturdays. Notwithstanding the provisions
11of subsection (a) or section 1719-A(12), if the board of school
12directors or board of trustees reschedules an instructional day
13on Saturday, the schools may be open the following Monday. The 
14chief executive officer of a charter school shall excuse 
15students from school attendance as provided in section 1501.7(e) 
16and (f).

17Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.