PRIOR PRINTER'S NO. 1343
PRINTER'S NO. 1374
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No.
1028
Session of
2022
INTRODUCED BY STEFANO, ROBINSON, AUMENT, BAKER, BARTOLOTTA,
DUSH, FONTANA, GORDNER, MASTRIANO, MENSCH, MUTH, PITTMAN,
TOMLINSON, J. WARD AND MARTIN, JANUARY 25, 2022
SENATOR STEFANO, VETERANS AFFAIRS AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS, AS
AMENDED, FEBRUARY 7, 2022
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 professional employees, providing
for Purple Star School Program.
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 AN ARTICLE to read:
Section 1184. Purple Star School Program.--(a) The Purple
Star School Program is established within the department.
(b) The department shall designate a public school as a
purple star school if the public school applies and qualifies
for the designation under the program.
(c) In order to qualify for the designation as a purple star
school, a public school shall:
(1) Submit an application to the department certifying that
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the public school meets:
(i) the criteria under section 1183; and
(ii) the program qualifications under this section.
(2) Designate a staff member as a military liaison. The
military liaison shall have all of the following duties:
(i) Identify a military-connected student enrolled at the
public school.
(ii) Serve as the point of contact between the public school
and a military-connected student and the military-connected
student's parent or guardian.
(iii) Determine appropriate school services available to a
military-connected student.
(iv) Assist in coordinating school programs relevant to a
military-connected student.
(3) Maintain an easily accessible web page on the public
school's publicly accessible Internet website to provide
resources for a military-connected student and the military-
connected student's parent or guardian, including information
regarding:
(i) Relocation to the public school, enrollment at the
public school, registration at the public school and
transferring records to the public school.
(ii) Academic planning, course sequences and advanced
classes available at the public school.
(iii) Counseling and other support services available for a
military-connected student.
(4) Maintain a transition initiative led by students, when
appropriate, that assists a military-connected student in
transitioning into the public school.
(5) Offer professional development for staff members on
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issues related to military-connected students.
(6) Offer at least one of the following initiatives:
(i) A resolution showing support for military-connected
students and their parents or guardians.
(ii) A commemoration of each month honoring active-duty
military service members, including relevant events hosted by
the public school.
(iii) A partnership with a local military installation that
provides opportunities for active-duty military service members
to volunteer at the public school, speak at a school assembly or
host a school field trip.
(d) A public school may partner with another public school
to meet any program requirement.
(e) The department shall promulgate regulations as necessary
to administer this section.
(f) 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.
"Military-connected student." A school-aged child who is a
dependent of any of the following:
(1) An active or a former member of any of the following:
(i) The United States Armed Forces serving in the United
States Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Space Force or Coast
Guard on active duty.
(ii) The Pennsylvania National Guard.
(iii) A reserve force of the United States Armed Forces.
(2) A member specified under paragraph (1) who was killed in
the active line of duty.
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"Program." The Purple Star School Program established under
this section.
"Public school." A school district, charter school, regional
charter school or career and technical school.
ARTICLE XV-K
PURPLE STAR SCHOOL PROGRAM
SECTION 1501-K. SCOPE OF ARTICLE.
THIS ARTICLE RELATES TO THE PURPLE STAR SCHOOL PROGRAM.
SECTION 1502-K. DEFINITIONS.
THE FOLLOWING WORDS AND PHRASES WHEN USED IN THIS ARTICLE
SHALL HAVE THE MEANINGS GIVEN TO THEM IN THIS SECTION UNLESS THE
CONTEXT CLEARLY INDICATES OTHERWISE:
"DEPARTMENT." THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION OF THE
COMMONWEALTH.
"MILITARY-CONNECTED STUDENT." A SCHOOL-AGED CHILD WHO IS A
DEPENDENT OF ANY OF THE FOLLOWING:
(1) AN ACTIVE OR A FORMER MEMBER OF ANY OF THE
FOLLOWING:
(I) THE UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES SERVING IN THE
UNITED STATES ARMY, NAVY, AIR FORCE, MARINE CORPS, SPACE
FORCE OR COAST GUARD ON ACTIVE DUTY.
(II) THE PENNSYLVANIA NATIONAL GUARD.
(III) A RESERVE FORCE OF THE UNITED STATES ARMED
FORCES.
(2) A MEMBER SPECIFIED UNDER PARAGRAPH (1) WHO WAS
KILLED IN THE ACTIVE LINE OF DUTY.
"NONPUBLIC SCHOOL." A NONPROFIT SCHOOL, OTHER THAN A PUBLIC
SCHOOL WITHIN THIS COMMONWEALTH, WHERE A RESIDENT OF THIS
COMMONWEALTH MAY LEGALLY FULFILL THE COMPULSORY SCHOOL
ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS OF THIS ACT AND WHICH MEETS THE
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REQUIREMENTS OF TITLE VI OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1964 (PUBLIC
LAW 88-352, 78 STAT. 241).
"PROGRAM." THE PURPLE STAR SCHOOL PROGRAM ESTABLISHED UNDER
1503-K(A)
"PUBLIC SCHOOL." A SCHOOL DISTRICT, CHARTER SCHOOL, REGIONAL
CHARTER SCHOOL OR CAREER AND TECHNICAL SCHOOL.
SECTION 1503-K. PURPLE STAR SCHOOL PROGRAM.
(A) ESTABLISHMENT.--THE PURPLE STAR SCHOOL PROGRAM IS
ESTABLISHED WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT.
(B) DESIGNATION.--THE DEPARTMENT SHALL DESIGNATE A PUBLIC
SCHOOL OR NONPUBLIC SCHOOL AS A PURPLE STAR SCHOOL IF THE PUBLIC
SCHOOL OR NONPUBLIC SCHOOL APPLIES AND QUALIFIES FOR THE
DESIGNATION UNDER THE PROGRAM.
SECTION 1504-K. QUALIFICATIONS FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
(A) QUALIFICATIONS.--IN ORDER TO QUALIFY FOR THE DESIGNATION
AS A PURPLE STAR SCHOOL, A PUBLIC SCHOOL SHALL DO ALL OF THE
FOLLOWING:
(1) SUBMIT AN APPLICATION TO THE DEPARTMENT CERTIFYING
THAT THE PUBLIC SCHOOL MEETS ALL OF THE FOLLOWING:
(I) THE CRITERIA UNDER SECTION 1183.
(II) THE PROGRAM QUALIFICATIONS UNDER THIS SECTION.
(2) DESIGNATE A STAFF MEMBER AS A MILITARY LIAISON. THE
MILITARY LIAISON SHALL HAVE ALL OF THE FOLLOWING DUTIES:
(I) IDENTIFY A MILITARY-CONNECTED STUDENT ENROLLED
AT THE PUBLIC SCHOOL.
(II) SERVE AS THE POINT OF CONTACT BETWEEN THE
PUBLIC SCHOOL AND A MILITARY-CONNECTED STUDENT AND THE
MILITARY-CONNECTED STUDENT'S PARENT OR GUARDIAN.
(III) DETERMINE APPROPRIATE SCHOOL SERVICES
AVAILABLE TO A MILITARY-CONNECTED STUDENT.
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(IV) ASSIST IN COORDINATING SCHOOL PROGRAMS RELEVANT
TO A MILITARY-CONNECTED STUDENT.
(3) MAINTAIN AN EASILY ACCESSIBLE WEB PAGE ON THE PUBLIC
SCHOOL'S PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE INTERNET WEBSITE TO PROVIDE
RESOURCES FOR A MILITARY-CONNECTED STUDENT AND THE MILITARY-
CONNECTED STUDENT'S PARENT OR GUARDIAN, INCLUDING INFORMATION
REGARDING ALL OF THE FOLLOWING:
(I) RELOCATION TO THE PUBLIC SCHOOL, ENROLLMENT AT
THE PUBLIC SCHOOL, REGISTRATION AT THE PUBLIC SCHOOL AND
TRANSFERRING RECORDS TO THE PUBLIC SCHOOL.
(II) ACADEMIC PLANNING, COURSE SEQUENCES AND
ADVANCED CLASSES AVAILABLE AT THE PUBLIC SCHOOL.
(III) COUNSELING AND OTHER SUPPORT SERVICES
AVAILABLE FOR A MILITARY-CONNECTED STUDENT.
(4) MAINTAIN A TRANSITION INITIATIVE LED BY STUDENTS,
WHEN APPROPRIATE, THAT ASSISTS A MILITARY-CONNECTED STUDENT
IN TRANSITIONING INTO THE PUBLIC SCHOOL.
(5) OFFER PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR STAFF MEMBERS ON
ISSUES RELATED TO MILITARY-CONNECTED STUDENTS.
(6) OFFER AT LEAST ONE OF THE FOLLOWING INITIATIVES:
(I) A RESOLUTION SHOWING SUPPORT FOR MILITARY-
CONNECTED STUDENTS AND THEIR PARENTS OR GUARDIANS.
(II) A COMMEMORATION OF EACH MONTH HONORING ACTIVE-
DUTY MILITARY SERVICE MEMBERS, INCLUDING RELEVANT EVENTS
HOSTED BY THE PUBLIC SCHOOL.
(III) A PARTNERSHIP WITH A LOCAL MILITARY
INSTALLATION THAT PROVIDES OPPORTUNITIES FOR ACTIVE-DUTY
MILITARY SERVICE MEMBERS TO VOLUNTEER AT THE PUBLIC
SCHOOL, SPEAK AT A SCHOOL ASSEMBLY OR HOST A SCHOOL FIELD
TRIP.
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(B) PARTNERSHIPS.--A PUBLIC SCHOOL MAY PARTNER WITH ANOTHER
PUBLIC SCHOOL TO MEET ANY PROGRAM REQUIREMENT.
SECTION 1505-K. QUALIFICATIONS FOR NONPUBLIC SCHOOLS.
(A) QUALIFICATIONS.--IN ORDER TO QUALIFY FOR THE DESIGNATION
AS A PURPLE STAR SCHOOL, A NONPUBLIC SCHOOL SHALL DO ALL OF THE
FOLLOWING:
(1) SUBMIT AN APPLICATION TO THE DEPARTMENT CERTIFYING
THAT THE NONPUBLIC SCHOOL MEETS THE PROGRAM QUALIFICATIONS
UNDER THIS SECTION.
(2) DESIGNATE A STAFF MEMBER AS A MILITARY LIAISON. THE
MILITARY LIAISON SHALL HAVE ALL OF THE FOLLOWING DUTIES:
(I) IDENTIFY A MILITARY-CONNECTED STUDENT ENROLLED
AT THE NONPUBLIC SCHOOL.
(II) SERVE AS THE POINT OF CONTACT BETWEEN THE
NONPUBLIC SCHOOL AND A MILITARY-CONNECTED STUDENT AND THE
MILITARY-CONNECTED STUDENT'S PARENT OR GUARDIAN.
(III) DETERMINE APPROPRIATE SCHOOL SERVICES
AVAILABLE TO A MILITARY-CONNECTED STUDENT.
(IV) ASSIST IN COORDINATING SCHOOL PROGRAMS RELEVANT
TO A MILITARY-CONNECTED STUDENT.
(3) MAINTAIN AN EASILY ACCESSIBLE WEB PAGE ON THE
NONPUBLIC SCHOOL'S PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE INTERNET WEBSITE TO
PROVIDE RESOURCES FOR A MILITARY-CONNECTED STUDENT AND THE
MILITARY-CONNECTED STUDENT'S PARENT OR GUARDIAN, INCLUDING
INFORMATION REGARDING ALL OF THE FOLLOWING:
(I) RELOCATION TO THE NONPUBLIC SCHOOL, ENROLLMENT
AT THE NONPUBLIC SCHOOL, REGISTRATION AT THE NONPUBLIC
SCHOOL AND TRANSFERRING RECORDS TO THE NONPUBLIC SCHOOL.
(II) ACADEMIC PLANNING, COURSE SEQUENCES AND
ADVANCED CLASSES AVAILABLE AT THE NONPUBLIC SCHOOL.
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(III) COUNSELING AND OTHER SUPPORT SERVICES
AVAILABLE FOR A MILITARY-CONNECTED STUDENT.
(4) MAINTAIN A TRANSITION INITIATIVE LED BY STUDENTS,
WHEN APPROPRIATE, THAT ASSISTS A MILITARY-CONNECTED STUDENT
IN TRANSITIONING INTO THE NONPUBLIC SCHOOL.
(5) OFFER PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR STAFF MEMBERS ON
ISSUES RELATED TO MILITARY-CONNECTED STUDENTS.
(6) OFFER AT LEAST ONE OF THE FOLLOWING INITIATIVES:
(I) A RESOLUTION SHOWING SUPPORT FOR MILITARY-
CONNECTED STUDENTS AND THEIR PARENTS OR GUARDIANS.
(II) A COMMEMORATION OF EACH MONTH HONORING ACTIVE-
DUTY MILITARY SERVICE MEMBERS, INCLUDING RELEVANT EVENTS
HOS TED BY THE NONPUBLIC SCHOOL.
(III) A PARTNERSHIP WITH A LOCAL MILITARY
INSTALLATION THAT PROVIDES OPPORTUNITIES FOR ACTIVE-DUTY
MILITARY SERVICE MEMBERS TO VOLUNTEER AT THE NONPUBLIC
SCHOOL, SPEAK AT A SCHOOL ASSEMBLY OR HOST A SCHOOL FIELD
TRIP.
(B) PARTNERSHIPS.--A NONPUBLIC SCHOOL MAY PARTNER WITH
ANOTHER NONPUBLIC SCHOOL TO MEET ANY PROGRAM REQUIREMENT.
SECTION 1506-K. REGULATIONS.
THE DEPARTMENT SHALL PROMULGATE REGULATIONS AS NECESSARY TO
ADMINISTER THIS ARTICLE.
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 180 days.
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