PRINTER'S NO. 611
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
537
Session of
2015
INTRODUCED BY KAUFFMAN, BLOOM, SACCONE, MALONEY, O'BRIEN,
BARRAR, HARHART, RAPP, METCALFE, TALLMAN, READSHAW, MARSHALL,
McGINNIS, MILLARD, GABLER, LAWRENCE, EMRICK, BENNINGHOFF,
MOUL AND HEFFLEY, FEBRUARY 23, 2015
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, FEBRUARY 23, 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 preliminary provisions, providing
for Pennsylvania Core Standards Commission.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. The act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known
as the Public School Code of 1949, is amended by adding a
section to read:
Section 124. Pennsylvania Core Standards Commission.--(a)
The Pennsylvania Core Standards Commission is established.
(b) The commission shall study the Pennsylvania Core
Standards under 22 Pa. Code Ch. 4 (relating to academic
standards and assessment) and make recommendations to the State
Board of Education for new standards to replace the Pennsylvania
Core Standards.
(c) The commission shall consist of the following members:
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(1) The following persons to be appointed by the Governor:
(i) Two (2) professional educators currently teaching in a
public school offering classes at any grade level from
kindergarten through grade twelve.
(ii) One (1) parent of a student enrolled in a public school
offering classes at any grade level from kindergarten through
grade twelve.
(iii) Two (2) persons employed in the private sector.
(2) The Secretary of Education or the secretary's designee.
(3) The following persons to be appointed by the President
pro tempore of the Senate, in consultation with the Majority
Leader and Minority Leader of the Senate:
(i) Two (2) professional educators currently teaching in a
public school offering classes at any grade level from
kindergarten through grade twelve.
(ii) One (1) parent of a student enrolled in a public school
offering classes at any grade level from kindergarten through
grade twelve.
(iii) Two (2) persons employed in the private sector.
(4) The chair and minority chair of the Education Committee
of the Senate and the chair and minority chair of the Education
Committee of the House of Representatives, or their designees.
(5) The following persons to be appointed by the Speaker of
the House of Representatives, in consultation with the Majority
Leader and Minority Leader of the House of Representatives:
(i) Two (2) professional educators currently teaching in a
public school offering classes at any grade level from
kindergarten through grade twelve.
(ii) One (1) parent of a student enrolled in a public school
offering classes at any grade level from kindergarten through
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grade twelve.
(iii) Two (2) persons employed in the private sector.
(6) The chair of the State Board of Education or the chair's
designee.
(c) The members of the commission shall be appointed no
later than thirty (30) days after the effective date of this
section.
(d) The commission shall appoint a member to serve as chair
of the commission.
(e) The commission shall hold meetings at the call of the
chair.
(f) The commission shall have the following powers and
duties:
(1) Consult with and utilize experts.
(2) Receive input from interested parties.
(3) Hold public hearings in different regions of this
Commonwealth.
(g) The members of the commission may not receive
compensation for their services, but shall be reimbursed for all
necessary travel and other reasonable expenses incurred in
connection with the performance of their duties as members of
the commission.
(h) The Department of Education shall:
(1) Provide administrative support, meeting space and any
other assistance required by the commission to carry out its
duties under this section.
(2) Provide the commission with data, research and other
information upon request by the commission.
(i) The commission shall submit its recommendations under
subsection (b) no later than six (6) months after the effective
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date of this section.
(j) The State Board of Education shall promulgate final
omitted regulations pursuant to the act of June 25, 1982
(P.L.633, No.181), known as the "Regulatory Review Act," based
on the recommendations received under subsection (i) no later
than one (1) year after receipt of the recommendations under
subsection (i). The regulations promulgated under this
subsection shall not deviate from the recommendations received
under subsection (i).
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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