PRINTER'S NO. 161
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
202
Session of
2017
INTRODUCED BY TURZAI, TOBASH, SAYLOR, CUTLER, TOEPEL, MASSER,
WHEELAND, WARD, BOBACK, CAUSER, KAUFFMAN, BAKER, SCHLOSSBERG,
MACKENZIE, JAMES, SACCONE, HICKERNELL, GREINER, BLOOM,
QUIGLEY, ENGLISH, PICKETT, M. K. KELLER, FEE, MULLERY,
MILLARD, TOPPER, GODSHALL, MARSHALL, GOODMAN, NEILSON,
STAATS, PHILLIPS-HILL, READSHAW, GROVE, DAVIS, RAPP,
D. COSTA, WARNER, ORTITAY, ROTHMAN, IRVIN, RYAN, ROEBUCK,
HEFFLEY, LAWRENCE, B. MILLER, SIMMONS, CORBIN, SCHEMEL,
CHARLTON, KAUFER, DUSH, LEWIS, SANKEY, LONGIETTI, STEPHENS,
FRANKEL, HELM, MALONEY, GABLER, KEEFER, EVERETT, M. QUINN,
CARROLL, McGINNIS, NELSON, FARRY, KAMPF, HAHN, HARKINS,
DIAMOND, TOOHIL, DeLUCA, DUNBAR, JOZWIAK, PYLE, R. BROWN,
F. KELLER, FREEMAN, SCHLEGEL CULVER AND GILLEN,
JANUARY 24, 2017
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, JANUARY 24, 2017
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, further
providing for Keystone Exams.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 121(a) of the act of March 10, 1949
(P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949,
amended February 3, 2016 (P.L.1, No.1), is amended and the
section is amended by adding subsections to read:
Section 121. Keystone Exams.--(a) [Subject to annual
appropriation, not later than the 2020-2021 school year, the]
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The Department of Education shall develop and implement Keystone
Exams in [the following subjects:] algebra I, literature[,
biology, English composition, algebra II, geometry, United
States history, chemistry, civics and government and world
history.] and biology. The State Board of Education shall
promulgate regulations, subject to the act of June 25, 1982
(P.L.633, No.181), known as the "Regulatory Review Act,"
necessary to implement this section.
* * *
(c) Notwithstanding section 2604-B(b)(2)(v), 22 Pa. Code ยง
4.24 (relating to high school graduation requirements) or 4.51
(relating to State assessment system) or any statute or
regulation to the contrary, in any school year in which a
demonstration of proficiency on a Keystone Exam is required for
high school graduation, a CTE Concentrator shall be deemed
proficient provided that the CTE Concentrator shall meet all of
the following requirements:
(1) completes locally established grade-based requirements
for academic content areas associated with each Keystone Exam on
which the CTE Concentrator did not achieve proficiency. For the
purposes of this paragraph, completion of grade-based
requirements in any science and technology and environment and
ecology course shall satisfy the requirements for the academic
content area associated with the Keystone Exam in biology; and
(2) completes one of the following:
(i) attains an industry-based competency certification
related to the CTE Concentrator's program of study; or
(ii) demonstrates a high likelihood of success on an
approved industry-based competency assessment or readiness for
continued meaningful engagement in the CTE Concentrator's
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program of study as demonstrated by performance on benchmark
assessments, course grades and other factors consistent with the
CTE Concentrator's goals and career plan.
(d) As used in this section, the following words and phrases
shall have the meanings given to them in this subsection unless
the context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Approved industry-based competency assessment." A NOCTI
exam, NIMS assessment or other industry-based competency
assessment identified by the Secretary of Education and approved
by the State Board of Education.
"CTE Concentrator." A student who, by the end of a reporting
year, will be reported as successfully completing at least fifty
percent (50%) of the minimum technical instructional hours
required under 22 Pa. Code Ch. 339 (relating to vocational
education).
"NIMS assessment." An assessment based on the National
Institute for Metalworking Skills standards.
"NOCTI exam." A National Occupational Competency Testing
Institute exam.
Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
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