PRINTER'S NO. 4254
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
2795
Session of
2020
INTRODUCED BY McCARTER, HILL-EVANS, DONATUCCI, CIRESI, KINSEY,
FREEMAN, MADDEN, ZABEL, ULLMAN, ISAACSON, SANCHEZ, LEE,
SHUSTERMAN, WILLIAMS, KIM, ROZZI, MALAGARI, SCHLOSSBERG,
SCHWEYER, GAINEY AND INNAMORATO, AUGUST 13, 2020
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, AUGUST 13, 2020
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 terms and courses of study,
providing for science curriculum to include climate change.
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 a
section to read:
Section 1529. Science Curriculum to Include Climate
Change.-- (a) Beginning with the 2020-2021 school year, each
school entity shall:
(1) Provide instruction on climate change in the science
course of study beginning in elementary school.
(2) Implement the instruction on climate change in the
science course of study to align with the Next Generation
Science Standards.
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(b) The department shall:
(1) Develop a model climate change science curriculum which
may include materials from the Next Generation Science Standards
and make the curriculum available to all school entities and,
upon request, to nonpublic schools.
(2) Compile, develop and post on its publicly accessible
Internet website the model curriculum which may include
materials already publicly available.
(c) As used in this section, the following words and phrases
shall have the meanings given to them in this subsection unless
the context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Department." The Department of Education of the
Commonwealth.
"Nonpublic school." A nonprofit school, other than a school
entity, wherein a resident of this Commonwealth may legally
fulfill the compulsory school attendance requirements of this
act and which meets the requirements of Title VI of the Civil
Rights Act of 1964 (Public Law 88-352, 78 Stat. 241).
"School entity." A school district, joint school district,
charter school, regional charter school, cyber charter school,
intermediate unit or area vocational-technical school.
Section 2. This act shall take effect September 1, 2020, or
immediately, whichever is later.
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