Trial Engrossment of Amendment A00273 to House Bill 0141 P.N. 0949, Regular Session 2023-2024

A00273

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE BILL

No.

141

Session of

2023

INTRODUCED BY SCHLOSSBERG, CIRESI, FLEMING, FRANKEL, FREEMAN,

HILL-EVANS, HOHENSTEIN, KENYATTA, KIM, KINSEY, MADDEN,

O'MARA, SANCHEZ, SHUSTERMAN, SMITH-WADE-EL, SOLOMON, STURLA,

TAKAC, WARREN AND D. WILLIAMS, APRIL 20, 2023

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, APRIL 20, 2023

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 talent recruitment, further

providing for Talent Recruitment Account; establishing the

Grow-Your-Own Educators Grant Program and grow-your-own

educator career pathways; and imposing duties of the

Department of Education.

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

hereby enacts as follows:

Section 1. Section 1505-K of the act of March 10, 1949

(P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, added

July 8, 2022 (P.L.620, No.55), is amended to read:

Section 1505-K. Talent Recruitment Account.

(a) Establishment.--The Talent Recruitment Account is

established as a restricted account in the General Fund.

(b) Use of funds.--Money in the account is appropriated to

the department on a continuing basis to provide grants in

accordance with [section 1506-K] sections 1506-K and 1504-K.1.

The appropriation shall not lapse at the end of any fiscal year.

(1) The State Treasurer may accept gifts, donations,

legacies or any other revenues, including allowable Federal

funds, for deposit into the account.

(2) Any interest that accrues in the account shall

remain in the account.

(d) Distribution of money.--Money appropriated or made

available to the department for grants in accordance with

sections 1506-K and 1504-K.1 shall be distributed as follows:

(1) Not less than 15% shall be allocated to meet the

purposes of section 1506-K.

(2) Funding shall be distributed geographically

throughout this Commonwealth.

Section 2. The act is amended by adding an article to read:

ARTICLE XV-K.1

GROW-YOUR-OWN EDUCATORS GRANT PROGRAM

Section 1501-K.1. Scope of article.

This article relates to grow-your-own educator career

pathways and the Grow-Your-Own Educators Grant Program.

Section 1502-K.1. 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:

"Approved educator preparation program." A sequence of

courses and experiences offered by an institution of higher

education or alternative program provider that is reviewed and

approved by the department in accordance with 22 Pa. Code Ch. 49

(relating to certification of professional personnel) or an

education career pathways program that prepares students to

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transfer into an approved educator preparation program .

"Career and technical student organization." An in-school

organization that provides personal and leadership development

related to a career and technical program area as recognized by

the United States Department of Education.

"Committee." As defined in section 1502-K.

"Community organization." A public or private not-for-profit

organization with a demonstrated commitment of providing

resources and services to improving the educational and social

well-being of a community or a specific population within a

community.

"Department." The Department of Education of the

Commonwealth.

"Education support professional." An employee of a school

entity who is not any of the following:

(1) A professional employee, as the term "professional

employe" is defined in section 1101(1).

(2) A substitute, as the term is defined in section

1101(2).

(3) A temporary professional employee, as the term

"temporary professional employe" is defined in section

1101(3).

"Employee organization." As the term "employe organization"

is defined in section 301(3) of the act of July 23, 1970

(P.L.563, No.195), known as the Public Employe Relations Act.

"Every Student Succeeds Act." The Every Student Succeeds Act

(Public Law 114-95, 129 Stat. 1802).

"Evidence-based." As defined in 20 U.S.C. § 7801(21)

(relating to definitions).

"Institution of higher education." Any of the following:

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(1) A community college under Article XIX-A.

(2) A rural regional college under Article XIX-G.

(3) An institution which is part of the State System of

Higher Education under Article XX-A.

(4) A State-related institution as defined in section

2001-D.

(5) The Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology.

(6) An accredited, private or independent college or

university located in this Commonwealth.

"Partnership." As follows:

(1) A collaboration among at least one school entity and

an institution of higher education with an approved educator

preparation program.

(2) The term may include:

(i) Additional school entities, such as a charter

school, regional charter school, cyber charter school,

approved private school, area career and technical school

or intermediate unit.

(ii) Additional institutions of higher education.

(iii) Community organizations.

(iv) Employee organizations.

"Pathway." One of the structured grow-your-own educator

career pathways established in section 1503-K.1(b).

"Program." The Grow-Your-Own Educators Grant Program

established under section 1504-K.1.

"School entity." A school district in this Commonwealth.

"Secretary." The Secretary of Education of the Commonwealth.

Section 1503-K.1. Grow-your-own educator career pathways.

(a) Purpose.--The purpose of this section is to identify and

encourage the development and implementation of evidence-based,

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high-quality grow-your-own educator career pathways throughout

this Commonwealth, which are designed to meet specific educator

workforce needs of the community on a continual basis.

(b) Establishment.--The following grow-your-own educator

career pathways are established:

(1) High school student-to-aspiring educator pathway,

which is offered by a partnership designed for secondary

students with an interest in pursuing education as a

profession. Students in the pathway under this paragraph

shall:

(i) Participate in a co-curricular program of study

for education and training that is in accordance with

section 1504-K and approved by the department.

(ii) Be provided with the following:

(A) Ongoing mentorship from certified educators.

(B) Support for the transition from secondary

school to a postsecondary approved educator

preparation program.

reduced tuition for eligible students that enroll in

a postsecondary approved educator preparation

program.

(D) Membership in a career and technical student

organization for the education profession.

(2) Aspiring-to-enacting educator pathway, in which a

partnership integrates wraparound supports, co-designed

clinical experiences and challenging coursework throughout an

approved educator preparation program to enable school

entities to employ and retain effective, certified educators.

(3) Education support professional-to-educator pathway,

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in which current school entity staff, including

paraprofessionals and instructional aides, participate in

education and training approved by the department to become

full-time, certified educators in their community. A

partnership offering the pathway under this paragraph shall

provide flexibility in course offerings and apply wage-

earning classroom time toward field experience requirements,

where appropriate.

(4) Community member-to-education support professional

pathway, which provides technical assistance, funding and

supports to recruit and provide high-quality preparation for

community members who are committed to engaging in meaningful

employment in the school entity in their local community. A

partnership providing the pathway under this paragraph shall

demonstrate that:

(i) barriers to recruitment and retention will be

identified and addressed;

(ii) requisite training will be provided; and

(iii) participants will earn appropriate credentials

upon completion of the pathway program.

Section 1504-K.1. Grow-Your-Own Educators Grant Program.

(a) Establishment.--The Grow-Your-Own Educators Grant

Program is established in the department.

(b) Purpose.--To the extent that money is appropriated for

the program, the department shall award grants on a competitive

basis to eligible partnerships for the purpose of establishing

or expanding grow-your-own educator career pathways that meet

criteria for funding.

money in the Talent Recruitment Account under section 1505-K and

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with any other money made available for this purpose.

(d) Priority.--The secretary shall give priority to an

application for a grant under the program to partnerships that

include school entities that:

(1) Are or previously were identified for financial

recovery status under Article VI-A.

(2) Have schools identified by the department for

comprehensive or additional targeted support and improvement

under the Every Student Succeeds Act.

(3) Have demonstrated shortages of educators, including

inequitable access to effective educators for all students as

required by 20 U.S.C. § 6311(g)(1)(B) (relating to State

plans).

(4) Have demonstrated cooperation with one or more

employee organizations in the school entity in designing the

proposed program.

Section 1505-K.1. Duties of department.

The department shall have the following powers and duties in

implementing this article:

(1) Provide technical assistance to the eligible

partnerships applying for grants under section 1504-K.1. The

technical assistance shall include, without limitation, the

following:

(i) Consultation with partnerships to assist in the

planning, development and implementation of one or more

grow-your-own educator career pathways.

(ii) Consultation with partnerships in identifying

and maximizing funding from additional sources for the

sustainability of the pathway beyond the grant.

(iii) Resources on evidence-based grow-your-own

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programming, which shall be posted on the department's

publicly accessible Internet website.

(2) Within 90 days of the effective date of this

paragraph and in consultation with the committee, adopt

guidelines for the program including, at a minimum:

(i) Criteria for grant eligibility and procedures

and criteria for awarding grants under the program,

including prioritization of applications under section

1504-K.1(d).

(ii) Required and allowable grant uses.

(iii) Permitted funding levels or limitations and

the renewability of grants.

(iv) The form, manner and time frame for eligible

partnerships to apply for a grant. Each application for a

grant must include:

(A) A statement of objectives and overview of

the proposed education career pathway to be offered

by the partnership.

(B) A needs assessment, including current and

future needs for an effective and diverse educator

workforce based on relevant data determined by the

department.

partnership, including an overview of the planning

process reflecting meaningful engagement of

stakeholders and commitment of an established group

of educators and administrators to supporting the

pathway and its participants.

(D) A description of the high-quality wraparound

supports to be provided to participants.

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(E) A description of assessments to ensure that

participants will be prepared to meet State-required

competencies for educational professionals.

(F) A description of how the pathway will

integrate comprehensive and coordinated field

experiences which embed effective educator

competencies throughout the program.

(G) A description of how the partnership will

define success, monitor progress and make program

improvements.

(H) A description of community-based recruitment

efforts.

(I) A description of how participation in the

program will result in an industry-recognized

credential, certification, postsecondary credit

attainment or employment eligibility.

(J) A proposed budget for the program,

including:

(I) The amount of the grant requested.

(II) Additional financial resources to be

used for the program.

(III) An outline of anticipated costs for a

high-quality, sustainable program, including

wraparound supports for participants, stipends

for participants and their mentors, additional

staffing needed for implementation and costs for

trainings and instructional resources.

(3) Carry out all other functions necessary to implement

this article, including:

(i) Begin awarding grants under the program no later

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than December 31, 2023, and by each December 1

thereafter.

(ii) In consultation with the committee, at least

every three years review the guidelines and standards,

grant application and program and pathway requirements

and make revisions if necessary.

(iii) Post all guidelines, standards and forms for

implementation of this article on its publicly accessible

Internet website.

Section 1506-K.1. Annual reports.

(a) Submittal.--By December 31, 2024, and by each December

31 thereafter, the department shall submit a report, in

accordance with subsection (b), to the following:

(1) The chairperson and minority chairperson of the

Appropriations Committee of the Senate.

(2) The chairperson and minority chairperson of the

Appropriations Committee of the House of Representatives.

(3) The chairperson and minority chairperson of the

Education Committee of the Senate.

(4) The chairperson and minority chairperson of the

Education Committee of the House of Representatives.

(b) Contents.--Each report under this section shall include:

(1) An assessment of the impact of the program.

(2) Recommendations for improvements to the program and

grow-your-own educator career pathways.

(3) Relevant data concerning types of partnerships

created.

(4) The number and demographics of participants in each

pathway.

(5) The number and dollar amounts of grants awarded

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under the program.

(6) A description of the uses of the grants awarded

under the program.

this section on its publicly accessible Internet website.

Section 1507-K.1. Existing collective bargaining agreements.

Nothing in this article shall be construed to supersede or

preempt a provision of a collective bargaining agreement between

a school entity and an employee organization or a right of an

employee organization under the provisions of the act of July

23, 1970 (P.L.563, No.195), known as the Public Employe

Relations Act.

Section 1508-K.1. Exclusions.

(a) Supplemental spending.--Grants received under this

article shall supplement and not supplant existing school entity

spending on educator recruitment and retention. Nothing shall

preclu de a school entity from making an application in a

subsequent year for the same purpose and amount awarded in a

prior year.

(b) Calculation of amounts paid.--Notwithstanding any other

provision of law, a grant received by a school entity under this

article shall not be included in the school entity's budgeted

total expenditure per average daily membership used to calculate

the amount to be paid to a charter school, regional charter

school or cyber charter school under section 1725-A(a)(2) and

(3).

to create an entitlement or a right to financial assistance as a

result of a grant received under this article.

Section 3. This act shall take effect in 90 days.

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