1Amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), entitled "An 
2act relating to the public school system, including certain 
3provisions applicable as well to private and parochial 
4schools; amending, revising, consolidating and changing the 
5laws relating thereto," in terms and courses of study, 
6providing for violence prevention programs.

7The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
8hereby enacts as follows:

9Section 1. The act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known 
10as the Public School Code of 1949, is amended by adding a 
11section to read:

12Section 1554. Violence Prevention Program.--(a) Each public
13school student shall receive mandatory instruction in prevention
14of violence in society and in schools in every grade from
15kindergarten through grade twelve. The instruction shall be
16integrated within the health course of study required in
17accordance with the State Board of Education regulations. In
18grades where the health course is offered, instruction may also
19be integrated into other appropriate courses of study. In grades

1where health is not offered, instruction shall be integrated
2into an appropriate curriculum requirement.

3(1) This instruction:

4(i) Shall be age appropriate.

5(ii) Shall be sequential in method of study.

6(iii) Shall explain the causes of violence.

7(iv) Shall espouse the rejection of violence in society in
8general and in schools in particular.

9(2) School districts may utilize any appropriate public or
10private materials, personnel and other resources in developing
11and implementing this program of instruction. The Pennsylvania
12State Police shall make available information about appropriate
13curriculum materials upon request of a school district.

14(b) Each school district may develop and offer instruction
15and discussion relating to this program for parents of students
16enrolled in the public schools.

17(c) The Department of Education shall develop curriculum
18guidelines for this program.

19(d) The Department of Education shall make available to all
20school districts and intermediate units in-service training
21programs based upon the instruction requirements established in
22subsection (a) and the curriculum guidelines established in
23subsection (c).

24(e) Each school district shall provide, as part of its in-
25service training, programs on violence prevention for all
26instructors whose teaching responsibilities include courses of
27study in which mandated instruction concerning violence
28prevention is integrated. To comply with this requirement, a
29school district may utilize the programs made available by the
30Department of Education or use other alternative programs.

1(f) The governing board of each intermediate unit in which a
2nonpublic school is located shall lend to all students attending
3nonpublic schools within the intermediate unit all educational
4materials developed by the Department of Education pursuant to
5this section. Local school boards shall not be required to
6expend funds which are not provided by either the Federal
7Government or State government for the use or loan of these
8materials. A nonpublic school may utilize the in-service
9training programs made available by the Department of Education
10through the intermediate unit.

11Section 2. The addition of section 1554 of the act shall
12apply to school years which begin after the effective date of
13this section.

14Section 3. This act shall take effect in 60 days.