PRINTER'S NO. 2043
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
1720
Session of
2023
INTRODUCED BY R. MACKENZIE, ECKER, HANBIDGE, HEFFLEY, JAMES,
KAUFFMAN, M. MACKENZIE, MENTZER, PICKETT, SCHMITT AND STAATS,
SEPTEMBER 26, 2023
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, SEPTEMBER 26, 2023
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 high schools, further providing
for assessment of civic knowledge.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 1605.1(a), (b)(2) and (4) and (c) of the
act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public
School Code of 1949, are amended to read:
Section 1605.1. Assessment of Civic Knowledge.--(a)
Beginning with the [2020-2021] 2023-2024 school year, each
school entity:
(1) Shall administer at least once to students during grades
seven through twelve [a locally developed assessment of United
States history, government and civics that includes the nature,
purpose, principles and structure of United States
constitutional democracy, the principles, operations and
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documents of United States government and the rights and
responsibilities of citizenship. Each school entity shall
determine the form of the assessment and the manner in which the
assessment shall be administered and may administer the
assessment at the conclusion of the course of study required
under section 1605(a) or at the conclusion of another related
course or instructional unit. A school entity may use] the
United States Citizenship and Immigration Services Test [to
satisfy the requirements of this paragraph]. A student must
receive a score of at least sixty percent (60%) as a condition
of high school graduation. A student may take the United States
Citizenship and Immigration Services Test as many times as
necessary to achieve a score of at least sixty percent (60%).
(2) Shall issue a certificate of recognition, developed by
the department, to students who achieve a perfect score on the
[assessment administered] United States Citizenship and
Immigration Services Test under paragraph (1).
(b) The department shall:
* * *
(2) Conduct an electronic survey of each school entity at
the conclusion of the [2020-2021] 2023-2024 school year and at
the conclusion of every second school year thereafter requesting
information concerning compliance with the requirements of this
section. Each school entity shall respond to the survey no later
than November 30 following the school year for which the survey
is conducted. The survey shall only request the following
information for the immediately preceding school year:
[(i) The type of the assessment administered as required
under subsection (a)(1).]
(ii) The total number of students who took the [assessment]
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United States Citizenship and Immigration Services Test.
(iii) The total number of students who attained a passing
grade on the [assessment] United States Citizenship and
Immigration Services Test.
(iv) The grade level or levels in which the [assessment]
United States Citizenship and Immigration Services Test was
administered.
(v) The course or courses in which the [assessment] United
States Citizenship and Immigration Services Test was
administered.
* * *
(4) Develop a certificate of recognition for a student who
achieves a perfect score on the [assessment] United States
Citizenship and Immigration Services Test under subsection (a)
(1) and make the certificate available on the department's
publicly accessible Internet website for use by a school entity.
(c) A student with an individualized education program shall
not be required to take the [assessment] United States
Citizenship and Immigration Services Test administered under
subsection (a)(1) if the provisions of the student's
individualized education program indicate otherwise.
* * *
Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
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