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PRINTER'S NO. 1326
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
1049
Session of
2021
INTRODUCED BY D. MILLER, MERSKI, D. WILLIAMS, HILL-EVANS,
A. DAVIS, DELLOSO, MADDEN, SANCHEZ, ISAACSON, HOWARD,
WEBSTER, O'MARA AND SCHWEYER, APRIL 21, 2021
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, APRIL 21, 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 certification of teachers,
providing for remote instruction tools and training.
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 1205.8. Remote Instruction Tools and Training.--(a)
School entities shall provide school employes, including
professional educators and instructional paraprofessionals, with
training to promote the effective and competent delivery of
remote instruction. The following apply:
(1) Training shall address:
(i) Teaching methodology and technological devices and
programs available to school employes to implement remote
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instruction and design and facilitate online learning.
(ii) Best practices for school entities regarding remote
instruction, including student engagement.
(iii) Recognition of the signs of a mental, educational or
emotional impact of remote instruction on students and
appropriate resources for students who are experiencing such
impact.
(iv) The school entity's policies regarding remote
instruction strategies.
(v) The school entity's policies regarding connecting
students with school-sponsored educational, medical and social
services that are traditionally administered when students are
in attendance in person.
(2) Training shall be developed according to evidence-based
or evidence-informed programs that are tailored to the local
community and reflect current best practices related to remote
instruction and online learning design, development and
strategies.
(3) School employes required to undergo continuing
professional education under section 1205.2 or 1205.5 shall
receive credit toward the school employes' continuing
professional education requirements if the training program has
been approved by the department.
(4) The school entity shall make a reasonable effort to
facilitate a time and location for school employes under this
section to participate in the training during paid working hours
or in-service training.
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a
baccalaureate teacher preparation program operating in this
Commonwealth shall provide courses and experiences in
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professional studies that seek to develop knowledge and skills
related to the most current remote instruction and online
learning tools, program design and methodology. The
baccalaureate teacher preparation program shall review its
curriculum related to remote instruction and implement the
necessary changes and updates to remain current with evidence-
based findings as deemed necessary by the department.
(c) The department shall promulgate regulations that:
(1) are related to the competencies and concepts that shall
be provided and completed in the remote and online instruction
training; and
(2) seek to offer guidance to baccalaureate teacher
preparation programs operating in this Commonwealth.
(d) As used in this section, the following words and phrases
shall have the meanings given to them in this subsection:
"Department" shall mean the Department of Education of the
Commonwealth.
"Evidence-based" shall have the meaning given in section
8101(21) of the Every Student Succeeds Act (Public Law 114-95,
129 Stat. 1802).
"Instructional paraprofessional" shall mean a school employe
who works under the direction of a certificated staff member to
support and assist in providing instructional programs and
services to eligible students.
"Remote instruction" shall mean a method in which academic
lessons, activities, assignments and examinations are performed
and delivered when students and instructors are not physically
present in a traditional setting.
"School employe" shall have the meaning given to the term
"professional employe" in section 1101(1).
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"School entity" shall mean a public school, including a
school district, charter school, cyber charter school, regional
charter school, intermediate unit or area career and technical
school, a private school or a nonpublic school.
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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