PRINTER'S NO. 334
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
268
Session of
2015
INTRODUCED BY LAWRENCE, BARRAR, V. BROWN, COHEN, KAUFFMAN,
TALLMAN AND TRUITT, FEBRUARY 4, 2015
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, FEBRUARY 4, 2015
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 high schools, further providing
for high school certificates.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 1613 of the act of March 10, 1949
(P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949,
amended June 22, 2001 (P.L.530, No.35), is amended to read:
Section 1613. High School Certificates.--(a) The board of
school directors, joint board or joint school committee
operating any high school shall issue a certificate to each
pupil who satisfactorily [completing the prescribed course of
instruction in the high school] achieves o ne of the test scores
required under subsection (b.1).
(b) For those pupils graduating at the close of the school
year 1989-1990[, and each school year thereafter] through the
school year 2013-2014, the following minimum courses in grades
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nine through twelve are established as a requirement for high
school graduation in schools operated by a bona fide church or
other religious body:
(1) Four years of English.
(2) Three years of mathematics.
(3) Three years of science.
(4) Three years of social studies.
(5) Two years of arts and humanities.
(b.1) For those pupils graduating at the close of the school
year 2014-2015, and each school year thereafter, one of the
following is established as a requirement for high school
graduation in public schools and schools operated by a bona fide
church or other religious body:
(1) Passage of the Keystone Exams in at least the subject
area of algebra I, literature, English composition, algebra II
or geometry.
(2) A score on the Scholastic Aptitude Test that meets at
least the minimum score required by regulation of the Department
of Education.
(3) A score on the college readiness assessment known as the
ACT that meets at least the minimum score required by regulation
of the Department of Education.
(4) A score of at least 60 on the Armed Forces Qualification
Test.
(c) A child enrolled in a day or boarding school accredited
by an accrediting association which is approved by the State
Board of Education shall be deemed to have met the requirements
of subsection [(b)] (b.1).
(d) The Department of Education, in a form and manner that
it shall prescribe, may issue a Commonwealth secondary school
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diploma to an individual confined in a State-operated juvenile
or adult correctional facility located within this Commonwealth
if the individual has [completed the required secondary school
curriculum specified by the department] satisfied the
requirements of subsection (b.1). If a Commonwealth secondary
school diploma is not issued, the department may award academic
credit for completed coursework.
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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