PRINTER'S NO. 1011
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
843
Session of
2015
INTRODUCED BY EMRICK, CUTLER, GROVE, DIAMOND, EVERETT, HELM,
FEE, MURT AND WATSON, MARCH 24, 2015
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, MARCH 24, 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 charter schools, further providing
for enrollment.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 1723-A heading, (a) and (b) of the act of
March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code
of 1949, amended June 26, 1999 (P.L.394, No.36), are amended to
read:
Section 1723-A. Application for Admission and Enrollment.--
(a) (1) All resident children in this Commonwealth qualify for
admission to a charter school within the provisions of
subsection (b). If more students apply to the charter school
than the number of attendance slots available in the school,
then students must be selected on a random basis from a pool of
[qualified applicants meeting the established eligibility
criteria and submitting an application] resident children who
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have submitted an application in accordance with subsection (a)
(3) and (4) by the deadline established by the charter school,
except that the charter school may give preference in enrollment
to a child of a parent who has actively participated in the
development of the charter school and to siblings of students
presently enrolled in the charter school. First preference shall
be given to students who reside in the district or districts.
(2) Resident children not selected from the initial pool
shall be placed on a waiting list in random order. Resident
children who apply after a waiting list has been created shall
be placed on the waiting list in the order in which their
applications are received. The charter school shall enroll
additional resident children from the waiting list when space
becomes available.
(3) Applications for admission to a charter school shall be
made on a form developed by the department. The application form
developed by the department shall be made available at the
charter school and posted on the charter school's publicly
accessible Internet website, if the charter school has a
publicly accessible Internet website.
(4) Applications for admission to a charter school or
entrance into a pool for random selection shall not require or
include a request for any other information beyond the contents
of the application form developed by the department unless
delineated in the school's charter, permitted under subsection
(b)(2) or (2.1) and approved by the local board of school
directors, in the case of a charter school or regional charter
school, or by the department, in the case of a cyber charter
school.
(5) Nothing in this section shall prohibit a charter school
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from requesting the submission of additional records and
information that public schools are entitled to receive after a
student acceptance for admission to a charter school.
(b) (1) [A] Except as provided in paragraph (2) or (2.1), a
charter school shall not discriminate in its admission policies
or practices on the basis of intellectual ability[, except as
provided in paragraph (2),] or athletic ability, measures of
achievement or aptitude, status as a person with a disability,
proficiency in the English language or any other basis that
would be illegal if used by a school district.
(2) A charter school may limit admission to a particular
grade level[,] or a targeted population group composed of at-
risk students[, or areas of concentration of the school such as
mathematics, science or the arts. A charter school may establish
reasonable criteria to evaluate prospective students which shall
be outlined in the school's charter].
(2.1) Only a charter school for students in grades nine
through twelve with a concentrated, specialized or accelerated
program of study in science, technology, engineering and
mathematics (STEM) or the performing arts, as set forth in the
school's charter, may establish reasonable criteria to evaluate
prospective students for admission purposes. The admission
criteria may include a test, project or audition or a review of
the prospective student's prior school grades, and shall be made
available at the charter school and posted on the charter
school's publicly accessible Internet website. Every child who
meets the admission criteria shall be eligible for admission and
included in a pool for random selection if a pool is required
under subsection (a)(1).
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Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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