HB 228 — An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in the State Board of Education, further providing for definitions and providing for academic standards review; and making editorial changes.

PRINTER'S NO.   181

                     THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



                         HOUSE BILL
                         No. 228
                                               Session of
                                                 2025

     INTRODUCED BY GLEIM, HAMM, LEADBETER, KAUFFMAN AND ZIMMERMAN,
        JANUARY 22, 2025

     REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, JANUARY 22, 2025


                                    AN ACT
 1   Amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), entitled "An
 2      act relating to the public school system, including certain
 3      provisions applicable as well to private and parochial
 4      schools; amending, revising, consolidating and changing the
 5      laws relating thereto," in the State Board of Education,
 6      further providing for definitions and providing for academic
 7      standards review; and making editorial changes.
 8      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
 9   hereby enacts as follows:
10      Section 1.    Section 2601-B(2) of the act of March 10, 1949
11   (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, is
12   amended and the section is amended by adding a paragraph to
13   read:
14      Section 2601-B.    Definitions.--When used in this article the
15   following words and phrases shall have the following meanings:
16      * * *
17      (2)   "State Board of Education" shall mean the entity known
18   as the State Board of Education and placed within, and made a
19   departmental administrative board of, the [Department of
20   Education] department by section 202 of the act of April 9, 1929
 1   (P.L.177, No.175), known as "The Administrative Code of 1929."
 2      (3)   "Department" shall mean the Department of Education of
 3   the Commonwealth.
 4      Section 2.   Sections 2602-B(f), 2603-B(b) and 2606-B of the
 5   act are amended to read:
 6      Section 2602-B.   Membership.--* * *
 7      (f)   Except for the chairman, not more than two (2) members
 8   serving on each council shall be employed either in a school
 9   system or in the [Department of Education] department. For
10   purposes of this subsection, the State System of Higher
11   Education shall not be considered a school system. Three (3)
12   members of the Council of Higher Education shall be actively
13   employed by an institution of higher education, at least one
14   holding an administrative position and at least one holding a
15   professional position on a faculty of an institution of higher
16   education. At least two (2) members serving on each council
17   shall have had previous experience with career and technical
18   education or training.
19      * * *
20      Section 2603-B.   Powers and Duties of the Board.--* * *
21      (b)   The board and the Secretary of Education shall jointly
22   employ and fix the compensation of such staff as it deems
23   necessary to perform the duties of the board. The board shall be
24   entitled to legal counsel which shall be designated by the
25   Office of General Counsel, which legal counsel shall not also be
26   legal counsel to the [Department of Education] department.
27      * * *
28      Section 2606-B.   Cooperation Between the Board and the
29   Department [of Education].--Statements of policy, standards,
30   rules and regulations promulgated by the board shall be binding

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 1   upon the [Department of Education] department. The department
 2   shall submit to the board for approval, modification or
 3   rejection, all rules and regulations proposed by the department
 4   in the areas under the control of the board. The [Department of
 5   Education] department shall furnish upon request of the board
 6   such data and information as the board may, from time to time,
 7   require, and the department shall provide administrative
 8   services for and on behalf of the board for the implementation
 9   of the board's statements of policy, standards, rules and
10   regulations.
11      Section 3.   The act is amended by adding a section to read:
12      Section 2607-B.   Academic Standards Review.--(a)   The board
13   shall, within ninety (90) days of the effective date of this
14   section, establish a schedule for the review of all academic
15   standards under 22 Pa. Code Ch. 4 (relating to academic
16   standards and assessment). The schedule shall ensure that State
17   academic standards for each content area are reviewed by the
18   board at least every three (3) years.
19      (b)   The review by the board shall determine if the State
20   academic standards for each content area are age appropriate,
21   clear, industry specific, academically challenging and meet the
22   needs of the job market. The board shall make revisions to the
23   State academic standards by regulation as necessary.
24      (c)   The board shall submit a report of a review made under
25   this section to the chairperson and minority chairperson of the
26   Education Committee of the Senate and the chairperson and
27   minority chairperson of the Education Committee of the House of
28   Representatives. The report shall include the following
29   contents:
30      (1)   A list of all updates and revisions to the State

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 1   academic standards for each specific content area.
 2      (2)   The purpose for all updates and revisions to State
 3   academic standards or if, upon review, the board determines the
 4   academic standards for a content area do not require updates or
 5   revisions, an explanation for the continuation of current
 6   academic standards.
 7      (3)   A list of stakeholders involved in the review process.
 8      (4)   The title and citation of any applicable frameworks and
 9   guidelines from outside organizations utilized in the
10   development of the updated State academic standards.
11      (5)   The time frame for the implementation of the updated
12   State academic standards.
13      (d)   The General Assembly may direct the board to conduct a
14   review of the State academic standards under this section by
15   adoption of a concurrent resolution.
16      (e)   This section shall not be construed to change any
17   requirement under the act of June 25, 1982 (P.L.633, No.181),
18   known as the "Regulatory Review Act."
19      Section 4.   This act shall take effect immediately.




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