PRINTER'S NO. 4249
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
2785
Session of
2020
INTRODUCED BY HOHENSTEIN, MURT, ROEBUCK, ISAACSON, DEASY,
DONATUCCI, GREEN, HANBIDGE, HILL-EVANS, KINSEY, KORTZ, LEE,
McNEILL, NEILSON, SANCHEZ, SCHLOSSBERG, SCHWEYER, WEBSTER AND
YOUNGBLOOD, AUGUST 13, 2020
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, AUGUST 13, 2020
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," providing for disability
inclusiveness curriculum.
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 an
article to read:
ARTICLE XVII-D
Disability Inclusiveness Curriculum
Section 1701-D. Short title of article.
This article shall be known and may be cited as the
Disability Inclusiveness Curriculum Act.
Section 1702-D. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this article
shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
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context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Department." The Department of Education of the
Commonwealth.
"Nonpublic school." A nonprofit school, other than a school
entity, wherein a resident of this Commonwealth may legally
fulfill the compulsory school attendance requirements of this
act and which meets the requirements of Title VI of the Civil
Rights Act of 1964 (Public Law 88-352, 78 Stat. 241).
"Pilot program." The Disability Inclusiveness Curriculum
Pilot Program established under this article.
"Professional educator." As defined in section 1205.2(o).
"School entity." A school district, joint school district,
charter school, regional charter school, cyber charter school,
intermediate area or area career and technical school.
Section 1703-D. Pilot program.
(a) Establishment.--The department shall establish a
Disability Inclusiveness Curriculum Pilot Program to provide
instruction on the political, economic and social contributions
of individuals with disabilities to students.
(b) Operation.--The pilot program shall operate for three
full school years, beginning with the school year that begins at
least nine months after the effective date of this section.
(c) Selection of school entities.--The department shall
select at least eight school entities to participate in the
pilot program. To be eligible for the pilot program, the school
entity must submit a proposal to the department no more than six
months after the effective date of this section that identifies
how the school entity will meet the guidelines of the pilot
program established by the department.
Section 1704-D. Department responsibilities.
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(a) Funding.--The department shall apply for Federal,
private and other non-State funds and shall use funds
appropriated or otherwise made available to the department for
the pilot program.
(b) Consultation.--The department shall consult with the
Disability Equality in Education organization in establishing,
operating and evaluating the pilot program.
(c) Guidelines.--No later than three months after the
effective date of this section, the department shall establish
guidelines and procedures for the pilot program using a
curriculum provided by the Disability Equality in Education
organization.
Section 1705-D. Pilot program evaluation.
(a) Annual report.--Each participating school entity shall
annually report to the department data and information about the
operation of the pilot program, in the manner prescribed by the
department.
(b) Evaluation.--The department shall contract with a
nationally recognized educational evaluation institution or
organization to provide an evaluation of the pilot program to
review the effectiveness of the implementation of a curriculum
inclusive to individuals with a disability. The evaluation shall
be published on the department's publicly accessible Internet
website.
Section 1706-D. Statewide curriculum.
(a) General rule.--Beginning with the first school year that
starts more than 12 months after the final year of the pilot
program, each school entity shall provide instruction on the
political, economic and social contributions of individuals with
disabilities to students. The instruction shall be integrated
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within the social studies and language arts courses of study
required in accordance with State Board of Education
regulations. Instruction may also be integrated into other
appropriate courses of study.
(b) Requirements.--The instruction under subsection (a)
shall:
(1) Be age appropriate.
(2) Be sequential in method of study.
(3) Communicate the premise that no human being is less
than another because of a physical or mental disability.
(c) Development of curriculum.--The following shall apply:
(1) The department shall establish curriculum guidelines
no later six months after final year of the pilot program.
The guidelines shall be based on the curriculum implemented
in the pilot program and the evaluation of the pilot
program's effectiveness.
(2) The department shall work in consultation with
organizations and individuals that advocate for individuals
with disabilities or otherwise provide educational expertise
and resources related to disability rights and the
contributions of individuals with disabilities to do the
following:
(i) Develop curriculum guidelines which state the
minimum amount of instruction necessary to adequately
educate students on the political, economic and social
contributions of individuals with disabilities. The
guidelines shall take into account the evaluation of the
pilot program.
(ii) Develop a model curriculum, which may include
materials already publicly available, and make the
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curriculum available to all school entities and, upon
request, to nonpublic schools. The curriculum shall be
based on the curriculum established for the pilot
program.
(iii) Develop and make available, to all school
entities, in-service training programs and educational
materials based upon the instruction provided for under
subsection (a) and the curriculum guidelines established
under this subsection, which may include publicly
available materials.
(d) Training for professional educators.--Each school entity
shall provide four hours of training in disability inclusiveness
every five years for professional educators assigned to teach
courses into which disability inclusiveness education has been
incorporated under subsection (a). Training under this
subsection may be used to satisfy a professional educator's
continuing professional education requirement under section
1205.2. A school entity may use the materials made available by
the department under subsection (c)(2) to conduct the training.
Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
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