HB 725 — An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in pupils and attendance, further providing for extended special education enrollment due to COVID-19.

PRINTER'S NO.    746

                      THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



                          HOUSE BILL
                          No. 725
                                                Session of
                                                  2025

     INTRODUCED BY WEBSTER, MADDEN, PIELLI, HILL-EVANS AND SANCHEZ,
        FEBRUARY 25, 2025

     REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, FEBRUARY 25, 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 pupils and attendance, further
 6      providing for extended special education enrollment due to
 7      COVID-19.
 8      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
 9   hereby enacts as follows:
10      Section 1.     Section 1383 of the act of March 10, 1949
11   (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, is
12   amended by adding a subsection to read:
13      Section 1383.     Extended Special Education Enrollment Due to
14   COVID-19.--* * *
15      (c.2)   (1)    Through the 2035-2036 school year, the Secretary
16   of Education may permit a student who meets all of the following
17   conditions to attend a school entity through the school year in
18   which the student reaches twenty-two (22) years of age:
19      (i)    The student has not graduated from high school.
20      (ii)    The student has an active IEP at any point during the
 1   school year in which the student turned twenty-one (21) years of
 2   age.
 3      (iii)     The student has been continuously enrolled in a school
 4   entity since the 2020-2021 school year.
 5      (2)    A school entity shall enroll a student if the Secretary
 6   of Education provides permission in accordance with paragraph
 7   (1). The Department of Education shall develop a standard
 8   election form for a parent or guardian to elect to enroll the
 9   student. The following apply:
10      (i)    The election form shall be made available on the
11   publicly accessible Internet website of the Department of
12   Education.
13      (ii)    The parent or guardian must submit the election form to
14   the Department of Education no later than April 1 of the school
15   year in which the student turns twenty-one (21) years of age.
16      (iii)     Within thirty (30) days of receipt of a completed
17   election form, the Secretary of Education shall approve or deny
18   the application and provide notification to the parent or
19   guardian and the school entity.
20      (3)    The following shall apply to a student enrolled in a
21   public school entity under this subsection:
22      (i)    The student's attendance shall be included in the public
23   school entity's average daily membership.
24      (ii)    The public school entity shall take all steps necessary
25   to comply with 20 U.S.C. Ch. 33 (relating to education of
26   individuals with disabilities) and 22 Pa. Code Ch. 14 (relating
27   to special education services and programs).
28      (iii)     A student who is twenty-one (21) years of age or
29   older, has an active IEP and is enrolled in a public school
30   entity shall count toward the caseload limitations specified in

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1   22 Pa. Code § 14.105 (relating to personnel).
2      * * *
3      Section 2.   This act shall take effect immediately.




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