PRINTER'S NO. 790
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
806
Session of
2021
INTRODUCED BY CIRESI, YOUNG, SANCHEZ, HOHENSTEIN, NEILSON,
GALLOWAY, MALAGARI, D. WILLIAMS, THOMAS, HILL-EVANS,
SCHLOSSBERG, ISAACSON, FREEMAN AND DeLUCA, MARCH 8, 2021
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, MARCH 8, 2021
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 Education Reform 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 129. Education Reform Commission.--(a) There is
established an Education Reform Commission for all of the
following purposes:
(1) To perform an in-depth study of the current educational
needs in this Commonwealth.
(2) To project the educational needs in this Commonwealth
over the next 25 years.
(3) To recommend reforms to the education system to prepare
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this Commonwealth for the future.
(b) The following apply:
(1) The commission shall consist of all of the following
members:
(i) The chairperson and minority chairperson of the
Education Committee of the Senate and the chairperson and
minority chairperson of the Education Committee of the House of
Representatives, or their designees.
(ii) Two legislators from each of the four legislative
caucuses, to be appointed by the President pro tempore of the
Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, in
consultation with the Majority Leader and Minority Leader of the
Senate and the Majority Leader and Minority Leader of the House
of Representatives.
(iii) The Secretary of Education or a designee.
(iv) The Deputy Secretary for Elementary and Secondary
Education or a designee.
(v) An individual appointed by the Governor who is an
employee of the executive branch of the Commonwealth.
(vi) One representative of each of the following appointed
by the Governor:
(A) a current school director;
(B) a current school administrator;
(C) a current school business official;
(D) a current school principal;
(E) a current school educator; and
(F) a current public school student.
(2) The members of the commission shall select a member to
serve as chairperson of the commission.
(c) The commission shall hold its first meeting within 45
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days of the effective date of this section, regardless of
whether the Governor or all legislative caucuses have nominated
members to the commission. The commission shall hold meetings at
the call of the chair.
(d) The members 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.
(e) The General Assembly shall provide administrative
support, meeting space and any other assistance required by the
commission to carry out the commission's duties under this
section in cooperation with the department. The department shall
provide the commission with data, research and other information
upon request by the commission.
(f) The commission shall have all of the following powers
and duties:
(1) Consider the following components of the education
system in this Commonwealth:
(i) Educational offerings and curriculum.
(ii) Staffing and equipment needs.
(iii) Extracurricular options.
(iv) Career and technical education.
(v) Construction and renovation needs.
(vi) Cost-saving opportunities.
(vii) Fair school board elections in every district.
(2) Review and make findings and recommendations related to
large-scale education reform in this Commonwealth.
(3) Review and make findings and recommendations related to
ensuring adequate and equitable school funding and equal access
to education for all students.
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(4) Consult with and utilize experts to assist the
commission in carrying out the duties under this subsection.
(5) Hold public hearings across this Commonwealth.
(6) Review and consider education reform formulas and
factors utilized throughout the United States.
(7) Develop a proposed education reform formula and factors
in accordance with the provisions of subsection (h).
(8) Draft proposed legislation and regulations based on the
commission's findings.
(g) The commission shall issue a report of the commission's
findings and recommendations to the Governor, the Secretary of
Education, the President pro tempore of the Senate, the Majority
Leader and Minority Leader of the Senate, the Education
Committee of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of
Representatives, the Majority Leader and Minority Leader of the
House of Representatives, the Education Committee of the House
of Representatives and the State Board of Education not later
than one year after the effective date of this section.
(h) The education reform formula developed by the commission
shall not go into effect unless the formula is approved by an
act of the General Assembly enacted after the effective date of
this section.
(i) Every five years, the commission shall be reconstituted
in accordance with subsection (c), shall meet and hold public
hearings to review the operation of the education reform
provisions of this section, shall make a further report and
shall issue the report to the recipients listed in subsection
(g).
(j) As used in this section, the following words and phrases
shall have the meanings given to them in this subsection:
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"Commission." The Education Reform Commission established
under this section.
"Department." The Department of Education of the
Commonwealth.
Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
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