SB 663 — An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in terms and courses of study, providing for deaf and hard of hearing education.

PRINTER'S NO.     687

                     THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



                        SENATE BILL
                        No. 663
                                               Session of
                                                 2025

     INTRODUCED BY MUTH, FONTANA, PICOZZI, COSTA, SAVAL, HAYWOOD,
        SCHWANK AND KANE, APRIL 28, 2025

     REFERRED TO EDUCATION, APRIL 28, 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 terms and courses of study,
 6      providing for deaf and hard of hearing education.
 7      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
 8   hereby enacts as follows:
 9      Section 1.    The act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known
10   as the Public School Code of 1949, is amended by adding a
11   section to read:
12      Section 1529.    Deaf and Hard of Hearing Education.--(a)   In
13   accordance with the academic standards for health, safety and
14   physical education and not later than the beginning of the 2025-
15   2026 school year, the department, in consultation with the
16   Department of Health and at least one State or local
17   organization with an expertise in hearing impairment and loss,
18   shall identify or develop a model curriculum and curriculum
19   guidelines for instruction on deaf and hard of hearing education
20   for public school students.
 1      (b)    The model curriculum and guidelines shall:
 2      (1)    be posted on the department's publicly accessible
 3   Internet website;
 4      (2)    be age-appropriate;
 5      (3)    be revised regularly to remain current with national
 6   standards;
 7      (4)    provide guidance for integration into health courses or
 8   other appropriate curriculum requirements;
 9      (5)    be made available to all school entities; and
10      (6)    address topics, including:
11      (i)    hearing loss types and causes;
12      (ii)    the prevalence of hearing impairment and loss;
13      (iii)     common sources of noises that can contribute to
14   hearing loss;
15      (iv)    effects of noise on hearing and warning signs of
16   impairment;
17      (v)    types of assistive devices available to address or
18   offset hearing loss;
19      (vi)    hearing loss stigmas and prevention techniques;
20      (vii)     the impact hearing impairment and loss can have on an
21   individual; and
22      (viii)     recommendations on preventing and treating hearing
23   loss.
24      (c)    (1)   A school entity that offers instruction in deaf and
25   hard of hearing education may utilize the model curriculum
26   developed under subsections (a) and (b) or develop the school
27   entity's own curriculum in accordance with academic standards
28   and consistent with guidelines developed under subsections (a)
29   and (b). A school entity may utilize appropriate publicly or
30   privately available materials, personnel and other resources in

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 1   developing and implementing this instruction, subject to the
 2   requirements of section 111 and 23 Pa.C.S. § 6344 (relating to
 3   employees having contact with children; adoptive and foster
 4   parents).
 5      (2)   A teacher, instructor or community volunteer, with the
 6   participation of a professional educator with a Pennsylvania
 7   certification, including a professional educator certified in
 8   physical education or health education or a school nurse, may
 9   provide, facilitate or oversee the instruction offered by a
10   school entity under this section.
11      (d)   A cyber charter school may provide the instruction under
12   this section through the Internet or other electronic means. If
13   a cyber charter school provides the instruction under this
14   section through the Internet or other electronic means, the
15   cyber charter school shall be exempt from the academic standards
16   and guidelines developed under subsections (a) and (b) regarding
17   in-person instructional requirements.
18      (e)   As used in this section, the following words and phrases
19   shall have the meanings given to them in this subsection unless
20   the context clearly indicates otherwise:
21      "Department."   The Department of Education of the
22   Commonwealth.
23      "School entity."   A school district, joint school district,
24   charter school, regional charter school, cyber charter school,
25   intermediate unit or area career and technical school.
26      Section 2.   This act shall take effect in 60 days.




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