Regular Session 2021-2022 House Bill 1867 P.N. 3278

SENATE AMENDED

PRIOR PRINTER'S NO. 2112

PRINTER'S NO. 3278

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE BILL

No.

1867

Session of

2021

INTRODUCED BY BOBACK, M. MACKENZIE, ROTHMAN, HELM, CIRESI,

R. BROWN, PENNYCUICK AND POLINCHOCK, SEPTEMBER 15, 2021

SENATOR STEFANO, VETERANS AFFAIRS AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS, IN

SENATE, AS AMENDED, JUNE 21, 2022

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 military-connected

students.

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 PURPLE STAR SCHOOL

PROGRAM.

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 XIII-F

MILITARY-CONNECTED STUDENTS

Section 1301-F. 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.

"Military-connected student." A student who is the dependent

of either an individual in the active military service of the

United States or in a full-time status during active service

with a force of the Pennsylvania National Guard.

"School." A school in a school district, charter school,

regional charter school, cyber charter school, intermediate unit

or career and technical school in this Commonwealth.

Section 1302-F. Purple-Star Schools.

(a) Designation.--The department shall designate a school

as a Purple-Star School if the school applies and qualifies for

the designation under this article. To qualify as a Purple-Star

School, a school must:

(1) Designate a staff member as a military liaison,

whose duties include:

(i) identifying military-connected students enrolled

at the school;

(ii) serving as the point of contact between the

school and military-connected students and their

families;

(iii) determining appropriate student services

available to military-connected students; and

(iv) assisting in coordinating programs relevant to

military-connected students.

(2) Maintain on the school district's publicly

accessible Internet website resources for military-connected

students and their families, including information regarding:

(i) relocation to, enrollment at, registration at

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and transferring records to the school;

(ii) academic planning, course sequences and

advanced classes available at the school; and

(iii) counseling and other support services

available for military-connected students enrolled in the

school.

(3) Maintain a transition program led by students, if

appropriate, which assists military-connected students in

transitioning into the school.

(4) Offer professional development for staff members on

issues related to military-connected students.

(5) Offer at least one of the following initiatives:

(i) a resolution showing support for military-

connected students and their families;

(ii) recognition of the Month of the Military Child

or Military Family Month with relevant events hosted by

the school; or

(iii) a partnership with a local military

installation that provides opportunities for active duty

military members to volunteer at the school, speak at an

assembly or host a field trip.

(b) Regulations.--The department shall promulgate rules and

regulations as necessary to administer this section.

Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.

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 XV-K

PURPLE STAR SCHOOL PROGRAM

SECTION 1501-K. SCOPE OF ARTICLE.

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THIS ARTICLE RELATES TO THE PURPLE STAR SCHOOL PROGRAM.

SECTION 1502-K. DEFINITIONS.

THE FOLLOWING WORDS AND PHRASES WHEN USED IN THIS ARTICLE

SHALL HAVE THE MEANINGS GIVEN TO THEM IN THIS SECTION UNLESS THE

CONTEXT CLEARLY INDICATES OTHERWISE:

"DEPARTMENT." THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION OF THE

COMMONWEALTH.

"MILITARY-CONNECTED STUDENT." A SCHOOL-AGED CHILD WHO IS A

DEPENDENT OF ANY OF THE FOLLOWING:

(1) AN ACTIVE OR A FORMER MEMBER OF ANY OF THE

FOLLOWING:

(I) THE UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES SERVING IN THE

UNITED STATES ARMY, NAVY, AIR FORCE, MARINE CORPS, SPACE

FORCE OR COAST GUARD ON ACTIVE DUTY.

(II) THE PENNSYLVANIA NATIONAL GUARD.

(III) A RESERVE FORCE OF THE UNITED STATES ARMED

FORCES.

(2) A MEMBER SPECIFIED UNDER PARAGRAPH (1) WHO WAS

KILLED IN THE ACTIVE LINE OF DUTY.

"NONPUBLIC SCHOOL." A NONPROFIT SCHOOL, OTHER THAN A PUBLIC

SCHOOL WITHIN THIS COMMONWEALTH, WHERE 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).

"PROGRAM." THE PURPLE STAR SCHOOL PROGRAM ESTABLISHED UNDER

SECTION 1503-K(A).

"PUBLIC SCHOOL." A SCHOOL DISTRICT, CHARTER SCHOOL, REGIONAL

CHARTER SCHOOL OR AREA CAREER AND TECHNICAL SCHOOL.

SECTION 1503-K. PURPLE STAR SCHOOL PROGRAM.

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(A) ESTABLISHMENT.--THE PURPLE STAR SCHOOL PROGRAM IS

ESTABLISHED WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT.

(B) DESIGNATION.--THE DEPARTMENT SHALL DESIGNATE A PUBLIC

SCHOOL OR NONPUBLIC SCHOOL AS A PURPLE STAR SCHOOL IF THE PUBLIC

SCHOOL OR NONPUBLIC SCHOOL APPLIES AND QUALIFIES FOR THE

DESIGNATION UNDER THE PROGRAM.

SECTION 1504-K. QUALIFICATIONS FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

(A) QUALIFICATIONS.--IN ORDER TO QUALIFY FOR THE DESIGNATION

AS A PURPLE STAR SCHOOL, A PUBLIC SCHOOL SHALL DO ALL OF THE

FOLLOWING:

(1) SUBMIT AN APPLICATION TO THE DEPARTMENT CERTIFYING

THAT THE PUBLIC SCHOOL MEETS ALL OF THE FOLLOWING:

(I) THE CRITERIA UNDER SECTION 1183.

(II) THE PROGRAM QUALIFICATIONS UNDER THIS SECTION.

(2) DESIGNATE A STAFF MEMBER AS A MILITARY LIAISON. THE

MILITARY LIAISON SHALL HAVE ALL OF THE FOLLOWING DUTIES:

(I) IDENTIFY A MILITARY-CONNECTED STUDENT ENROLLED

AT THE PUBLIC SCHOOL.

(II) SERVE AS THE POINT OF CONTACT BETWEEN THE

PUBLIC SCHOOL AND A MILITARY-CONNECTED STUDENT AND THE

MILITARY-CONNECTED STUDENT'S PARENT OR GUARDIAN.

(III) DETERMINE APPROPRIATE SCHOOL SERVICES

AVAILABLE TO A MILITARY-CONNECTED STUDENT.

(IV) ASSIST IN COORDINATING SCHOOL PROGRAMS RELEVANT

TO A MILITARY-CONNECTED STUDENT.

(3) MAINTAIN AN EASILY ACCESSIBLE WEB PAGE ON THE PUBLIC

SCHOOL'S PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE INTERNET WEBSITE TO PROVIDE

RESOURCES FOR A MILITARY-CONNECTED STUDENT AND THE MILITARY-

CONNECTED STUDENT'S PARENT OR GUARDIAN, INCLUDING INFORMATION

REGARDING ALL OF THE FOLLOWING:

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(I) RELOCATION TO THE PUBLIC SCHOOL, ENROLLMENT AT

THE PUBLIC SCHOOL, REGISTRATION AT THE PUBLIC SCHOOL AND

TRANSFERRING RECORDS TO THE PUBLIC SCHOOL.

(II) ACADEMIC PLANNING, COURSE SEQUENCES AND

ADVANCED CLASSES AVAILABLE AT THE PUBLIC SCHOOL.

(III) COUNSELING AND OTHER SUPPORT SERVICES

AVAILABLE FOR A MILITARY-CONNECTED STUDENT.

(4) MAINTAIN A TRANSITION INITIATIVE LED BY STUDENTS,

WHEN APPROPRIATE, THAT ASSISTS A MILITARY-CONNECTED STUDENT

IN TRANSITIONING INTO THE PUBLIC SCHOOL.

(5) OFFER PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR STAFF MEMBERS ON

ISSUES RELATED TO MILITARY-CONNECTED STUDENTS.

(6) OFFER AT LEAST ONE OF THE FOLLOWING INITIATIVES:

(I) A RESOLUTION SHOWING SUPPORT FOR MILITARY-

CONNECTED STUDENTS AND THEIR PARENTS OR GUARDIANS.

(II) A COMMEMORATION OF EACH MONTH HONORING ACTIVE-

DUTY MILITARY SERVICE MEMBERS, INCLUDING RELEVANT EVENTS

HOSTED BY THE PUBLIC SCHOOL.

(III) A PARTNERSHIP WITH A LOCAL MILITARY

INSTALLATION THAT PROVIDES OPPORTUNITIES FOR ACTIVE-DUTY

MILITARY SERVICE MEMBERS TO VOLUNTEER AT THE PUBLIC

SCHOOL, SPEAK AT A SCHOOL ASSEMBLY OR HOST A SCHOOL FIELD

TRIP.

(B) PARTNERSHIPS.--A PUBLIC SCHOOL MAY PARTNER WITH ANOTHER

PUBLIC SCHOOL TO MEET ANY PROGRAM REQUIREMENT.

SECTION 1505-K. QUALIFICATIONS FOR NONPUBLIC SCHOOLS.

(A) QUALIFICATIONS.--IN ORDER TO QUALIFY FOR THE DESIGNATION

AS A PURPLE STAR SCHOOL, A NONPUBLIC SCHOOL SHALL DO ALL OF THE

FOLLOWING:

(1) SUBMIT AN APPLICATION TO THE DEPARTMENT CERTIFYING

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THAT THE NONPUBLIC SCHOOL MEETS THE PROGRAM QUALIFICATIONS

UNDER THIS SECTION.

(2) DESIGNATE A STAFF MEMBER AS A MILITARY LIAISON. THE

MILITARY LIAISON SHALL HAVE ALL OF THE FOLLOWING DUTIES:

(I) IDENTIFY A MILITARY-CONNECTED STUDENT ENROLLED

AT THE NONPUBLIC SCHOOL.

(II) SERVE AS THE POINT OF CONTACT BETWEEN THE

NONPUBLIC SCHOOL AND A MILITARY-CONNECTED STUDENT AND THE

MILITARY-CONNECTED STUDENT'S PARENT OR GUARDIAN.

(III) DETERMINE APPROPRIATE SCHOOL SERVICES

AVAILABLE TO A MILITARY-CONNECTED STUDENT.

(IV) ASSIST IN COORDINATING SCHOOL PROGRAMS RELEVANT

TO A MILITARY-CONNECTED STUDENT.

(3) MAINTAIN AN EASILY ACCESSIBLE WEB PAGE ON THE

NONPUBLIC SCHOOL'S PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE INTERNET WEBSITE TO

PROVIDE RESOURCES FOR A MILITARY-CONNECTED STUDENT AND THE

MILITARY-CONNECTED STUDENT'S PARENT OR GUARDIAN, INCLUDING

INFORMATION REGARDING ALL OF THE FOLLOWING:

(I) RELOCATION TO THE NONPUBLIC SCHOOL, ENROLLMENT

AT THE NONPUBLIC SCHOOL, REGISTRATION AT THE NONPUBLIC

SCHOOL AND TRANSFERRING RECORDS TO THE NONPUBLIC SCHOOL.

(II) ACADEMIC PLANNING, COURSE SEQUENCES AND

ADVANCED CLASSES AVAILABLE AT THE NONPUBLIC SCHOOL.

(III) COUNSELING AND OTHER SUPPORT SERVICES

AVAILABLE FOR A MILITARY-CONNECTED STUDENT.

(4) MAINTAIN A TRANSITION INITIATIVE LED BY STUDENTS,

WHEN APPROPRIATE, THAT ASSISTS A MILITARY-CONNECTED STUDENT

IN TRANSITIONING INTO THE NONPUBLIC SCHOOL.

(5) OFFER PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR STAFF MEMBERS ON

ISSUES RELATED TO MILITARY-CONNECTED STUDENTS.

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(6) OFFER AT LEAST ONE OF THE FOLLOWING INITIATIVES:

(I) A RESOLUTION SHOWING SUPPORT FOR MILITARY-

CONNECTED STUDENTS AND THEIR PARENTS OR GUARDIANS.

(II) A COMMEMORATION OF EACH MONTH HONORING ACTIVE-

DUTY MILITARY SERVICE MEMBERS, INCLUDING RELEVANT EVENTS

HOS TED BY THE NONPUBLIC SCHOOL.

(III) A PARTNERSHIP WITH A LOCAL MILITARY

INSTALLATION THAT PROVIDES OPPORTUNITIES FOR ACTIVE-DUTY

MILITARY SERVICE MEMBERS TO VOLUNTEER AT THE NONPUBLIC

SCHOOL, SPEAK AT A SCHOOL ASSEMBLY OR HOST A SCHOOL FIELD

TRIP.

(B) PARTNERSHIPS.--A NONPUBLIC SCHOOL MAY PARTNER WITH

ANOTHER NONPUBLIC SCHOOL TO MEET ANY PROGRAM REQUIREMENT.

SECTION 1506-K. REGULATIONS.

THE DEPARTMENT SHALL PROMULGATE REGULATIONS AS NECESSARY TO

ADMINISTER THIS ARTICLE.

SECTION 2. THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT IN 180 DAYS.

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