Regular Session 2017-2018 House Bill 0067 P.N. 0062

PRINTER'S NO. 62

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE BILL

No.

Session of

2017

INTRODUCED BY BURNS, READSHAW AND V. BROWN, JANUARY 23, 2017

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, JANUARY 23, 2017

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 duties and powers of boards of

school directors, establishing parent involvement programs

and policies in school districts; and, in school health

services, establishing the school health services task force.

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

hereby enacts as follows:

Section 1. The act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known

as the Public School Code of 1949, is amended by adding sections

to read:

Section 528. Parent Involvement Programs and Policies.--(a)

The board of school directors in a school district of the first

class, first class A, second class, third class or fourth class

shall establish a parent involvement program, parent involvement

policy and parent involvement committee. No school entity may be

required to establish a new program or policy under this section

if one currently exists and reasonably fulfills the requirements

of this section.

(b) A parent involvement program established by a board of

school directors shall identify all of the following:

(1) Existing resources, activities or materials in the

school district that may be used by parents to improve the

academic achievement of students in the school district.

(2) Existing resources, activities or materials in the

school district that may be used by parents to improve or

supplement techniques used by parents at home to support and

improve the academic achievement of students in the school

district.

(3) A districtwide system of communicating information

between parents and school officials regarding the curriculum,

academic goals and strategic plan of the school district.

(4) Any supplemental academic services available to students

whose score on any Pennsylvania System of School Assessment test

is below proficient.

(5) Any mechanism through which parents can provide

recommendations to the board of school directors regarding

programs that may improve the academic achievement of students

in the school district.

(6) Any mechanism through which the school district can

provide information to parents regarding resources, activities

or materials in the school district that may be used by parents

to improve the academic achievement of their students.

school directors shall include all of the following:

(1) Identification of goals and objectives for the

involvement of parents in the improvement of the academic

achievement of students in the school district.

(2) Identification of specific strategies to meet the goals

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and objectives required under paragraph (1).

(3) Explanation of the resources, activities, materials and

mechanisms identified in the parent involvement program.

(4) Explanation of the role of the parent involvement

committee established under subsection (d).

(d) A parent involvement committee established by a board of

school directors shall consist of parents of students enrolled

in the school district and shall be responsible for providing

the board of school directors with recommendations on the school

district's parent involvement program and parent involvement

policy. If a school district currently has established a

committee of parents that makes recommendations on school

policies, the board of school directors may utilize that

committee to meet the requirements of this subsection.

(e) A board of school directors shall provide for the

publication and dissemination of information related to the

school district's parent involvement program and parent

involvement policy. The board of school directors shall:

(1) Provide a copy of the parental involvement policy to the

parent or guardian of each student enrolled in the district .

(2) Make copies of the parent involvement program and parent

involvement policy available for inspection in the

administrative office of the school district and provide copies

upon request.

(3) Provide copies of the parent involvement program and

parent involvement policy to the Department of Education no

later than sixty (60) days from the effective date of this

section .

Section 1425. School Health Services Task Force.--(a) The

General Assembly finds that:

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(1) School health personnel deliver valuable services that

address the physical, mental, emotional and social health of

their students.

(2) The ways and means by which those health services are

provided vary across school districts and regions across this

Commonwealth.

(3) While student health issues are increasing in

complexity, earlier this decade the number of school nurse

certificates issued by the Department of Education showed a

trend to decline, and State subsidies for school district health

services have remained relatively flat over the past five years.

(4) Studies project a shortage of registered nurses in

Pennsylvania, and nationally school districts face numerous

challenges in providing health services to students.

(b) There is established a task force on school health

services. The task force shall consist of the following

individuals:

(1) Two members of the Senate, one each to be chosen by the

President pro tempore and the Minority Leader of the Senate.

(2) Two members of the House of Representatives, one each

chosen by the Majority Leader and the Minority Leader of the

House of Representatives.

(3) One member chosen by the Secretary of Education from

among persons recommended by the Department of Education.

(4) One representative from each of the following:

(i) An organization representing school nurses.

(ii) An organization representing school board directors.

(iii) An organization representing school administrators.

(iv) An organization representing school business officials.

(v) An organization representing school principals.

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of the effective date of this section. A majority of the members

of the task force shall constitute a quorum for the transaction

of business. Official action by the task force shall require the

approval of a majority of the members of the task force. The

task force shall elect one of its members to serve as

chairperson. If there is a vacancy for any cause, a replacement

shall be appointed in the same way with the same qualifications

as set forth in this section and shall hold office for the

unexpired portion of the term. Members of the task force shall

not be entitled to compensation or reimbursement and shall serve

as volunteers on the task force.

(d) The task force shall convene no later than sixty (60)

days after the effective date of this section. The task force is

authorized to hold hearings, take testimony and make its

investigations at such places in this Commonwealth as it deems

necessary. The task force shall meet at such times and places

specified by the call of the chairperson or of a majority of the

members of the task force. In undertaking its investigations

regarding school health services, the task force shall do all of

the following:

(1) Adopt rules necessary for the operation of the task

force.

(2) Meet and conduct hearings with representatives of the

public school districts of this Commonwealth, including, but not

limited to, school administrators and school health providers,

school board members, representatives of the Department of

Education and the Department of Health and other health

officials and medical professionals.

(3) Identify, evaluate and make recommendations on topics

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involved with school health care, including, but not limited to,

the following:

(i) The number of school nurse certifications issued

annually by the Department of Education over the last ten years.

(ii) The number of waivers and emergency certification

permits issued for school nurses annually by the Department of

Education over the last ten years, both across this Commonwealth

and by region.

(iii) The number of other school health personnel employed

over the last ten years by districts under Article XIV.

(iv) The cost of delivering school health services mandated

by law and as otherwise provided by the district.

(v) Availability and coordination of Federal and State

funding for school nurse services.

(vi) Best practices to improve school health services in

this Commonwealth's public schools.

(vii) Alternative health care services, programs and

staffing options that could assist school districts in offering

a flexible and comprehensive delivery of school health services

in this Commonwealth's public schools.

(4) Make and transmit a report of its activities, findings

and recommendations, including possible legislation, to the

chairperson of the Public Health and Welfare Committee of the

Senate, the chairperson of the Education Committee of the

Senate, the chairperson of the Health Committee of the House of

Representatives and the chairperson of the Human Services

Committee of the House of Representatives and the chairperson of

the Education Committee of the House of Representatives within

one year of the task force's first meeting.

(e) The Department of Education and the Department of Health

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shall provide staff support to the task force.

(f) The task force shall cease to exist upon the receipt by

all four committee chairpersons of the task force's report as

described in subsection (d)(4), unless it is reestablished by

action of the General Assembly.

(g) As used in this section:

"School nurse" shall have the same meaning as under section

1401.

"Task force" means the task force on school health services

established under this section.

Section 2. This act shall take effect as follows:

(1) The addition of section 528 of the act shall take

effect in 180 days.

(2) The addition of section 1425 of the act shall take

effect in 60 days.

(3) This section shall take effect immediately.

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