PRINTER'S NO. 2179
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
1917
Session of
2021
INTRODUCED BY KIM, FRANKEL, KINSEY, SCHLOSSBERG, ISAACSON, HILL-
EVANS, FREEMAN, DELLOSO, McCLINTON, HOHENSTEIN, SANCHEZ,
HOWARD, MALAGARI, INNAMORATO, HANBIDGE, SAMUELSON,
SHUSTERMAN, T. DAVIS AND O'MARA, SEPTEMBER 27, 2021
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, SEPTEMBER 27, 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 terms and courses of study,
providing for Asian-American and Pacific Islander history
instruction.
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 1555. Asian-American and Pacific Islander History
Instruction.--(a) The Department of Education shall develop a
model curriculum for students in kindergarten through grade
twelve on Asian-American and Pacific Islander history.
(b) The instruction under subsection (a) shall:
(1) Be age appropriate.
(2) Be sequential in method of study.
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(3) Communicate the connection between national, ethnic or
racial intolerance.
(4) Communicate the impact of personal responsibility, civic
engagement and societal response within the context of paragraph
(3).
(c) A school entity may utilize appropriate public or
private resources to develop and implement this section. The
Department of Education shall distribute information about
appropriate curriculum materials to each school entity.
(d) Beginning with the 2022-2023 school year, each school
entity may offer instruction on Asian-American and Pacific
Islander history and the social, political and economic
contributions of members of the Asian-American and Pacific
Islander community. This instruction may be integrated within
the social studies and language arts course of study required in
accordance with State Board of Education regulations.
Instruction may also be integrated into other appropriate
courses of study.
(e) The Department of Education may contract with and work
in consultation with other organizations to develop curriculum
under this section, including the Governor's Advisory Commission
on Asian Pacific American Affairs.
(f) The curriculum under this section may include the
history of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in Pennsylvania
and the history of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the
United States as a whole, including the contributions of Asian
Americans and Pacific Islanders toward advancing civil rights
from the 19th century onward. The curriculum may also include
contributions made by individual Asian Americans and Pacific
Islanders in government and the arts, humanities and sciences,
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as well as the contributions of Asian-American and Pacific
Islander communities to the economic, cultural, social and
political development of the United States.
(g) Beginning with the 2022-2023 school year, the Department
of Education shall make available to all school entities the
curriculum described under this section, including any and all
appropriate curriculum information and materials. The Department
of Education shall also provide curriculum guidelines, in-
service training programs and any other materials developed for
the curriculum to any nonpublic school upon request.
(h) Beginning with the 2022-2023 school year, each school
entity shall provide programs on Asian-American and Pacific
Islander history for instructors, utilizing the Department of
Education's curriculum as part of the Department of Education's
in-service training programs. School employes shall receive
continuing professional education credits for engaging in in-
service training programs developed under this section.
(i) The State Board of Education shall:
(1) Conduct a study on instruction offered in Asian-American
and Pacific Islander history.
(2) Request that each school entity provide the State Board
of Education with information concerning whether the school
entity offers instruction in Asian-American and Pacific Islander
history and the manner in which that instruction is offered.
(3) Issue a report on the instruction of Asian-American and
Pacific Islander history in the 2023-2024 school year no later
than November 30, 2024, to the Governor, the Secretary of
Education, 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
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Representatives.
(j) The State Board of Education report under subsection (i)
shall include the following:
(1) The number of school entities offering instruction in
Asian-American and Pacific Islander history.
(2) The number of school entities using the curriculum and
guidelines established by the Department of Education.
(3) The number of school entities using the in-service
training programs made available by the Department of Education
under this section.
(4) A description of how school entities are offering
instruction in Asian-American and Pacific Islander history,
which shall include:
(i) The number of hours of instruction offered.
(ii) The grade levels at which instruction is offered.
(iii) The course or courses in which the instruction is
integrated.
(iv) Recommendations for improvements to the offering of
instruction in Asian-American and Pacific Islander history,
including recommended legislation.
(k) The Department of Education shall promulgate regulations
necessary for the implementation of this section. If the report
and study conducted by the State Board of Education under
subsection (i) demonstrates that less than ninety percent of
school entities offer instruction in Asian-American and Pacific
Islander history consistent with the instruction and curriculum
provided by the Department of Education, then the Department of
Education shall adopt regulations to require all school entities
to offer instruction in Asian-American and Pacific Islander
history.
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(l) For purposes of this section, the term "school entity"
shall mean a school district, charter school, regional charter
school, cyber charter school, intermediate unit or area career
and technical school.
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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