PRINTER'S NO. 927
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No.
831
Session of
2015
INTRODUCED BY DINNIMAN, SCHWANK, TARTAGLIONE, COSTA, FONTANA,
VULAKOVICH, YUDICHAK AND BREWSTER, MAY 14, 2015
REFERRED TO EDUCATION, MAY 14, 2015
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 charter schools, further providing
for contents of application, for enrollment, for annual
reports and assessments, for provisions applicable to charter
schools and for applicability of other provisions of this act
and of other acts and regulations.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 1719-A of the act of March 10, 1949
(P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, is
amended by adding a paragraph to read:
Section 1719-A. Contents of Application.--An application to
establish a charter school shall include all of the following
information:
* * *
(18) Policies regarding truancy, absences and withdrawal of
students, including the manner in which the charter school will
monitor attendance consistent with section 1715-A(a)(9).
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Section 2. Section 1723-A of the act is amended by adding a
subsection to read:
Section 1723-A. Enrollment.--* * *
(e) (1) Within ten (10) days of enrollment of a student to
a charter school, the charter school shall notify the student's
school district of residence of the enrollment through the use
of a notification form developed by the department.
(2) The charter school and parent or legal guardian of a
student enrolled in the school shall provide written
notification to the student's school district of residence
within ten (10) days after withdrawal of a student from a
charter school.
(3) The charter school and parent or legal guardian of a
student enrolled in the school shall provide written
notification to the student's school district of residence
within ten (10) days after a summary conviction or assignment to
an adjudication alternative program under section 1333 is
ordered.
(4) The notification required under this subsection shall
include:
(i) The name, home address and mailing address of the
student.
(ii) The grade in which the student is enrolled.
(iii) The date the student will be enrolled, withdrawn or
that was the subject of the penalties incurred.
(iv) The name and address of the charter school and the name
and telephone number of a contact person able to provide
information regarding the school.
(v) If notification is required under paragraph (2), the
name and address of the school, whether charter, home or
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otherwise, where the student has enrolled upon their withdrawal
and the name and telephone number of a contact person able to
provide information regarding the newly enrolled school.
(vi) The signature of the parent or legal guardian of the
student and an authorized representative of the charter school.
Section 3. Section 1728-A(a) of the act, added June 19, 1997
(P.L.225, No.22), is amended and the section is amended by
adding a subsection to read:
Section 1728-A. Annual Reports and Assessments.--(a) (1)
The local board of school directors shall annually assess
whether each charter school is meeting the goals of its charter
and shall conduct a comprehensive review prior to granting a
five (5) year renewal of the charter. The local board of school
directors shall have ongoing access to the records and
facilities of the charter school to ensure that the charter
school is in compliance with its charter and this act and that
requirements for testing, civil rights and student health and
safety are being met.
(2) A charter school shall review at the close of each
fiscal year an enrollment test to verify the accuracy of student
enrollment and reporting to the Commonwealth.
* * *
(d) (1) The accuracy of the charter school's enrollment and
reporting to the Commonwealth shall be made available on the
school district's publicly accessible Internet website and the
charter school's publicly accessible Internet website, if
applicable.
(2) A charter school shall annually provide the school
district and the department with a copy of the accuracy of the
charter school's enrollment and reporting to the Commonwealth.
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(3) The charter school foundation shall also make copies of
the accuracy of the charter school's enrollment and reporting to
the Commonwealth available upon request and on the foundation's
or the school's publicly accessible Internet website within
thirty (30) days of the close of the foundation's fiscal year.
Section 4. Sections 1732-A(a) and 1749-A(a) of the act,
amended June 29, 2002 (P.L.524, No.88), are amended to read:
Section 1732-A. Provisions Applicable to Charter Schools.--
(a) Charter schools shall be subject to the following:
Sections 108, 110, 111, 321, 325, 326, 327, 431, 436, 443,
510, 518, 527, 708, 736, 737, 738, 739, 740, 741, 752, 753,
[755,] 771, 776, 777, 808, 809, 810, 1109, 1111, 1112(a), 1301,
1302, 1310, 1317, 1317.1, 1317.2, 1318, 1327, 1330, 1332, 1333,
1342, 1343, 1354, 1355, 1303-A, 1513, 1517, 1518, 1521, 1523,
1531, 1547, 2014-A, Article XIII-A and Article XIV.
Act of July 17, 1961 (P.L.776, No.341), known as the
"Pennsylvania Fair Educational Opportunities Act."
Act of July 19, 1965 (P.L.215, No.116), entitled "An act
providing for the use of eye protective devices by persons
engaged in hazardous activities or exposed to known dangers in
schools, colleges and universities."
Section 4 of the act of January 25, 1966 (1965 P.L.1546,
No.541), entitled "An act providing scholarships and providing
funds to secure Federal funds for qualified students of the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania who need financial assistance to
attend postsecondary institutions of higher learning, making an
appropriation, and providing for the administration of this
act."
Act of July 12, 1972 (P.L.765, No.181), entitled "An act
relating to drugs and alcohol and their abuse, providing for
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projects and programs and grants to educational agencies, other
public or private agencies, institutions or organizations."
Act of December 15, 1986 (P.L.1595, No.175), known as the
"Antihazing Law."
* * *
Section 1749-A. Applicability of other provisions of this act
and of other acts and regulations.
(a) General requirements.--Cyber charter schools shall be
subject to the following:
(1) Sections 108, 110, 111, 321, 325, 326, 327, 431,
436, 443, 510, 518, 527, 708, 752, 753, [755,] 771, 776, 777,
808, 809, 810, 1109, 1111, 1112(a), 1205.1, 1205.2, 1301,
1302, 1310, 1317.2, 1318, 1327, 1330, 1332, 1333, 1342, 1343,
1354, 1355, 1303-A, 1518, 1521, 1523, 1531, 1547, 1702-A,
1703-A, 1714-A, 1715-A, 1716-A, 1719-A, 1721-A, 1722-A, 1723-
A(a) and (b), 1724-A, 1725-A, 1727-A, 1728-A(a)(2) and (b),
1729-A, 1730-A, 1731-A(a)(1) and (b) and 2014-A and Articles
XII-A, XIII-A and XIV.
(2) The act of July 17, 1961 (P.L.776, No.341), known as
the Pennsylvania Fair Educational Opportunities Act.
(3) The act of July 19, 1965 (P.L.215, No.116), entitled
"An act providing for the use of eye protective devices by
persons engaged in hazardous activities or exposed to known
dangers in schools, colleges and universities."
(4) Section 4 of the act of January 25, 1966 (1965
P.L.1546, No.541), entitled "An act providing scholarships
and providing funds to secure Federal funds for qualified
students of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania who need
financial assistance to attend postsecondary institutions of
higher learning, making an appropriation, and providing for
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the administration of this act."
(5) The act of July 12, 1972 (P.L.765, No.181) entitled
"An act relating to drugs and alcohol and their abuse,
providing for projects and programs and grants to educational
agencies, other public or private agencies, institutions or
organizations."
(6) The act of December 15, 1986 (P.L.1595, No.175),
known as the Antihazing Law.
* * *
Section 5. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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