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HOUSE AMENDED
PRIOR PRINTER'S NO. 1024
PRINTER'S NO. 1411
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No.
880
Session of
2015
INTRODUCED BY SMUCKER, FOLMER, VOGEL, TOMLINSON, BROOKS,
SCAVELLO, HUTCHINSON, DINNIMAN, GREENLEAF, VULAKOVICH, WHITE,
RAFFERTY, BARTOLOTTA, ALLOWAY, AUMENT AND WAGNER,
JUNE 8, 2015
AS REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES, AS AMENDED, NOVEMBER 17, 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 preliminary provisions, further
providing for Keystone Exams.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 121 of the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30,
No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, added June 30,
2012 (P.L.684, No.82), is amended to read:
Section 121. Keystone Exams.--(a) Subject to annual
appropriation, not later than the 2020-2021 school year, the
Department of Education shall develop and implement Keystone
Exams in the following subjects: algebra I, literature, biology,
English composition, algebra II, geometry, United States
history, chemistry, civics and government and world history. The
State Board of Education shall promulgate regulations, subject
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to the act of June 25, 1982 (P.L.633, No.181), known as the
"Regulatory Review Act," necessary to implement this section.
(b) THE FOLLOWING SHALL APPLY:
(1) Notwithstanding section 2604-B(b)(2)(v), 22 Pa. Code §
4.24 (relating to high school graduation requirements), 4.51
(relating to State assessment system) or 4.51c (relating to
project-based assessment) or any statute or regulation to the
contrary, the use of the Keystone Exam as a graduation
requirement or as a benchmark for the need for participation in
a project-based assessment shall be delayed until the 2018-2019
school year.
(2) THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION SHALL INVESTIGATE AND
DEVELOP ALTERNATIVES IN ADDITION TO THE USE OF THE KEYSTONE
EXAMS AS A REQUIREMENT FOR GRADUATION AND SHALL, WITHIN SIX (6)
MONTHS OF THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS PARAGRAPH, ISSUE A REPORT
OF THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION'S FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS,
INCLUDING PROPOSED LEGISLATION, TO THE CHAIRMAN AND MINORITY
CHAIRMAN OF THE EDUCATION COMMITTEE OF THE SENATE AND THE
CHAIRMAN AND MINORITY CHAIRMAN OF THE EDUCATION COMMITTEE OF THE
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. THE REPORT SHALL, AT A MINIMUM,
CONTAIN A DETAILED PLAN AND TIMELINE WITHIN WHICH THE DEPARTMENT
OF EDUCATION SHALL ACCOMPLISH ALL OF THE FOLLOWING:
(I) IMPLEMENT ALTERNATIVE METHODS FOR STUDENTS TO
DEMONSTRATE PROFICIENCY FOR GRADUATION IN ADDITION TO THE
KEYSTONE EXAMS, PROJECT-BASED ASSESSMENT AND OTHER ALTERNATIVE
ASSESSMENTS PROVIDED FOR IN 22 PA. CODE § 4.24.
(II) IMPROVE AND EXPEDITE THE EVALUATION OF PROJECT-BASED
ASSESSMENTS.
(III) ENSURE THAT NO STUDENT IS PROHIBITED FROM
PARTICIPATION IN VOCATIONAL-TECHNICAL EDUCATION OR ELECTIVE
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COURSES OR PROGRAMS AS A RESULT OF SUPPLEMENTAL INSTRUCTION
REQUIRED IN 22 PA. CODE §§ 4.24(K) AND 4.51B(F) (RELATING TO
KEYSTONE EXAMS).
Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
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