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," providing for Holocaust, genocide and
6human rights violations instruction.

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.  Holocaust, Genocide and Human Rights
13Violations Instruction.--(a)  Beginning with school year 2014-
142015 and each school year thereafter, each public school student
15shall receive mandatory instruction in the Holocaust, genocide
16and human rights violations from grade six (6) through grade
17twelve (12). The instruction shall be integrated within the
18social studies and language arts courses of study required in
19accordance with the State Board of Education regulations. 
20Instruction may also be integrated into other appropriate

1courses of study. The following shall apply:

2(1)  This instruction:

3(i)  Shall be age appropriate.

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

5(iii)  Shall communicate the connection between national,
6ethnic, racial or religious intolerance and the subjects
7established under subsection (b).

8(iv)  Shall communicate the impact of personal
9responsibility, civic engagement and societal response within
10the context of the subjects established under subsection (b).

11(2)  School districts may utilize any appropriate public or
12private materials, personnel and other resources in developing
13and implementing this program of instruction. The Department of
14Education shall make available information about appropriate
15curriculum materials upon request of a school district.

16(b)  The Department of Education shall establish curriculum
17guidelines no later than twelve (12) months after the effective
18date of this section. The following shall apply:

19(1)  The guidelines shall encourage the inclusion of the
20following subjects where appropriate in the instruction:

21(i)  The breadth of the history of the Holocaust, including
22the Third Reich dictatorship, concentration camp system,
23persecution of Jews and non-Jews, Jewish and non-Jewish
24resistance and post-World War II trials.

25(ii)  The definition, history, response and actions taken in
26the face of genocides, including the Holocaust, the Armenian
27Genocide, the Bosnian Genocide and the Genocide in Sudan.

28(iii)  Human rights violations.

29(iv)  Anti-Semitism, racism and the abridgment of civil
30rights.

1(2)  School districts may utilize any curriculum that
2complies with the requirements of this subsection.

3(3)  The Department of Education and school districts may
4work in consultation with organizations that provide educational
5resources related to the Holocaust, genocide and human rights
6violations to develop these curriculum guidelines.

7(c)  Beginning with the 2014-2015 school year and each school
8year thereafter, the Secretary of Education shall make
9available, to all school districts and intermediate units, in-
10service training programs based upon the instruction
11requirements established under subsection (a) and the curriculum
12guidelines established under subsection (b).

13(d)  The following shall apply:

14(1)  Beginning with the 2014-2015 school year and each school
15year thereafter, each school district shall provide, as part of
16its in-service training, programs on the Holocaust, genocide and
17human rights violations for all instructors whose teaching
18responsibilities include courses of study in which mandated
19instruction concerning the Holocaust, genocide and human rights
20violations is integrated. A school district may utilize the
21programs made available by the Department of Education or use
22other alternative programs.

23(2)  Employes required to undergo continuing professional
24education under section 1205.2 shall receive credit toward the
25continuing professional education requirements if the training
26program has been approved by the Department of Education.

27(e)  The Department of Education shall provide the
28guidelines, in-service training and any other materials
29developed in accordance with this section to any nonpublic
30school within this Commonwealth upon receiving a request from

1the nonpublic school.

2(f)  The State Board of Education shall adopt rules and
3regulations necessary for the implementation of this section.

4Section 2.  This act shall take effect in 60 days.