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 Holocaust, genocide and human rights violations
7instruction.

8The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
9hereby enacts as follows:

10Section 1. The act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known
11as the Public School Code of 1949, is amended by adding a
12section to read:

13Section 1554. Holocaust, Genocide and Human Rights
14Violations Instruction.--(a) (1) Beginning with school year
152015-2016, each school entity may offer instruction in the
16Holocaust, genocide and human rights violations to students <-in
17grade six through grade twelve. If offered by the school entity,
18the instruction shall be integrated within the social studies

1and language arts courses of study required in accordance with
2State Board of Education regulations. Instruction may also be
3integrated into other appropriate courses of study.

4(2) The Holocaust, genocide and human rights violations
5instruction permitted pursuant to paragraph (1) shall:

6(i) Be age appropriate.

7(ii) Be sequential in method of study.

8(iii) Communicate the connection between national, ethnic,
9racial or religious intolerance and the subjects described in
10subsection (b).

11(iv) Communicate the impact of personal responsibility,
12civic engagement and societal response within the context of the
13subjects described in subsection (b).

14(3) School entities may utilize any appropriate public or
15private materials, personnel and other resources in developing
16and implementing the program of instruction permitted pursuant
17to paragraph (1). The Department of Education shall make
18available information about appropriate curriculum materials
19upon request of a school entity. School entities that offer the
20instruction permitted pursuant to paragraph (1) may utilize any
21curriculum that complies with the requirements of this
22subsection.

23(b) (1) The Department of Education shall establish
24curriculum guidelines no later than twelve (12) months after the
25effective date of this section. The guidelines shall encourage
26the inclusion of all of the following subjects where appropriate
27in the instruction:

28(i) The breadth of the history of the Holocaust, including
29the Third Reich dictatorship, concentration camp system,
30persecution of Jews and non-Jews, Jewish and non-Jewish

1resistance and post-World War II trials.

2(ii) The definition, history, response and actions taken in
3the face of genocide, including the Holocaust and any other
4genocide perpetrated against humanity.

5(iii) Human rights violations.

6(iv) Anti-Semitism, racism and the abridgment of civil
7rights.

8(2) The Department of Education may work in consultation
9with organizations that provide educational resources related to
10the Holocaust, genocide and human rights violations to develop
11the curriculum guidelines.

12(c) Beginning with the 2015-2016 school year, the Department
13of Education shall make available, to all school entities, in-
14service training programs based upon the instruction permitted
15pursuant to subsection (a) and the curriculum guidelines
16established pursuant to subsection (b).

17(d) (1) Beginning with the 2015-2016 school year, each
18school entity that offers the instruction permitted pursuant to
19subsection (a) shall provide, as part of its in-service
20training, programs on the Holocaust, genocide and human rights
21violations for all instructors whose teaching responsibilities
22include courses of study in which instruction concerning the
23Holocaust, genocide and human rights violations is integrated. A
24school entity may utilize the programs made available by the
25Department of Education or use other alternative programs that
26are consistent with the provisions of this section.

27(2) Employes required to complete continuing professional
28education under section 1205.2 shall receive credit toward the
29continuing professional education requirements where the
30training program provided pursuant to paragraph (1) has been

1approved by the Department of Education.

2(e) The Department of Education shall provide the
3guidelines, in-service training and any other materials
4developed in accordance with this section to any nonpublic
5school within this Commonwealth upon receiving a request from
6the nonpublic school.

7(f) The State Board of Education shall adopt rules and
8regulations necessary for the implementation of this section
9pursuant to the act of June 25, 1982 (P.L.633, No.181), known as
10the "Regulatory Review Act."

11(g) For purposes of this section, the term "school entity"
12shall mean a school district, charter school, regional charter
13school, cyber charter school, intermediate unit or area
14vocational-technical school.

15Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.