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May 27, 2022
The Senate and House of Representatives were in session this week. The Senate will return on Monday, June 6 and the House will return to the Capitol on Tuesday, June 7.
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Senate Education Committee pulls school voucher bill from agenda
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This week the Senate Education Committee met but did not consider private school voucher legislation under House Bill 2169 (Rep. Owlett, R- Tioga). The bill was removed from the voting agenda prior to the meeting and next steps for the proposal were not announced. If it is put back on the agenda for a future meeting, it is likely that amendments may be offered to the bill or that provisions could be amended into another piece of legislation.
House Bill 2169 creates a tuition voucher program for students costing taxpayers and the schools that need resources the most approximately $144 million. Vouchers will siphon precious taxpayer resources away from public schools, and send those resources to private schools, higher education institutions and entities that are not accountable to the public for their decisions or results. Vouchers reduce equitable access to educational opportunity, weaken rights for students with disabilities, fail to provide accountability, and expose taxpayers to fraud.
PSBA has been at the Capitol actively opposing the bill. The association, as a member of Pennsylvanians Opposed to Vouchers, also sent a letter and an FAQ piece to the entire Senate this week asking members to reject House Bill 2169.
READ! Click here to read the joint letter of opposition from the coalition
READ! Click here to read the coalition’s FAQ that provides a detailed analysis of House Bill 2169
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Senator Scavello to introduce PSBA bill to reform charter special education funding
The bill would revise the funding system for charter school students to more accurately reflect the actual costs of providing special education
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Sen. Mario Scavello (R-Monroe) recently issued a co-sponsorship memo for new legislation he is introducing revise the special education funding system for charter school students that more accurately reflects the actual costs of providing special education. PSBA worked with Senator Scavello to introduce the bill and we thank him for pushing this critical issue forward.
The bill, which does not yet have a number, would implement the bipartisan 2013 Special Education Funding Commission’s recommendation for applying the same special education funding principles used to distribute state special education funding to school districts, in the calculation used to determine a school district’s tuition payment for a special education student enrolled in a charter school.
Companion legislation has been introduced in the House of Representatives by Rep. Rosemary Brown (R-Monroe) under House Bill 1749.
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Passed by the Senate
Steel Products Procurement Act: Senate Bill 1043 (Sen. Stefano, R-Fayette) reduces the amount of paperwork required by the Steel Products Procurement Act, which requires that any steel products used or supplied on a public works project in the state, must be U.S. steel products. The bill requires public agencies, which include public school entities, counties, municipal governments and municipal authorities that procure steel products to create centralized portals to allow the required documentation to be submitted electronically. The bill is now in the House State Government Committee for further consideration.
Passed by the Senate Education Committee
Temporary graduation pathway for students impacted by Covid testing waivers: PSBA supports Senate Bill 1244 (Sen. Martin, R-Lancaster), legislation that offers students impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic Keystone Exam testing waivers with a temporary two-score composite pathway to graduation. Under the bill, in any school year in which a demonstration of proficiency on a Keystone Exam is required for high school graduation, a student would be deemed proficient if they demonstrate attainment of a satisfactory composite score of at least 2939, using the highest scores attained by the student on two of the three Keystone Exams in Algebra I, Literature and Biology. The student would have to achieve a minimum score of proficient on at least one of the two Keystone Exams and a minimum score of basic on the other Keystone Exam used to calculate the composite score.
Background: Act 158 of 2018 expanded the options available to meet statewide high school graduation requirements. One of the options is a three-score composite pathway, which requires a student to earn at least a combined score of 4452 on the three Keystone Exams, with one of the scores a minimum of proficient and the remaining two scores not be less than basic. In 2020, Keystone Exam testing was waived by the U.S. Department of Education and the General Assembly subsequently passed Act 136 of 2020. Under Act 136, which provided each student who successfully completed a course in an academic content area associated with a Keystone Exam was not required to take the Keystone Exam related to that course and could be deemed proficient upon completion of locally-established requirements. However, there was no numeric score assigned to the student’s score and so these students could no longer pursue the three-score composite pathway unless they opted to retest. Senate Bill 1244 creates a new, temporary two-score composite pathway for students impacted by the waivers issued under Act 136.
Home-school access to district/CTE programs: House Bill 1041 (Rep. Topper, R-Bedford) requires school districts and area career and technical centers (CTCs) to allow home schooled students who are residents of the school district or of one of the school districts that participates in the area CTC to enroll in cocurricular activities and take academic courses. Student participation must be pursuant to the policies of the school district of residence and on the same basis as other students enrolled in the school district or CTC. This includes meeting the eligibility requirements and prerequisites of each course.
Parents are responsible for their student’s transportation, although the student may utilize district transportation during the times a school bus is otherwise already operating and space is available. Home education students enrolled part-time in school districts or career and technical centers will be included in the average daily membership (ADM) of the school district of residence and the career and technical center, if applicable, by counting the time the home education student spends in the public school program on a pro rata basis.
As House Bill 1041 progressed through the House, PSBA was successful in having it amended to address many significant concerns with the original language of the bill. PSBA is continuing to work with the Senate to add improvements to the bill. This week, the committee amended the bill to move the start date to the 2023-24 school year, change the homeschooler participation from “up to four courses at a time” to “equaling up to at least one quarter of a school day”, and make various technical changes. PSBA supports the amendment.
Prohibitions in school sports for transgender students: House Bill 972 (Rep. Gleim, R-Cumberland) creates restrictions prohibiting transgender students from participating in sports teams that align with their gender identity. Under the bill, interscholastic, intercollegiate, intramural or club athletic teams or sports that are sponsored by a public school entity, a public institution of higher education or any school or institution where students or teams compete against a public school or institution of higher education must be expressly designated based on sex (defined as the biological distinction between male and female based on reproductive biology and genetic make-up) as male, female or coed. The bill prohibits male students from participating in athletic teams or sports designated for females and creates causes of action for harms suffered by designation of athletic teams. If a part of this act is found invalid, all valid parts that are severable from the invalid part shall remain in effect. Gov. Wolf has stated that he would veto the bill if it passed.
House floor action
Broadcasting public meetings: House Bill 2428 (Rep. Knowles, R-Schuylkill) amends the Sunshine Act to facilitate the creation of local rules allowing meetings to be broadcast online and allow public comment via authorized telecommunications devices. Political subdivisions, including school districts, and municipal authorities offering internet broadcast or remote public comment must include information regarding the broadcast or public comment in its existing public notices and meeting minutes. PSBA worked with the committee on an amendment to address and clarify a number of issues, including provisions for advertising and other matters. Another amendment inserted into House Bill 2428 raises other issues and PSBA is continuing to work with the bill sponsor and staff to improve the bill. This week, the bill was amended on the House floor to allow boards and councils to mandate the exclusive use of remote public comment if the meeting is being held due to “exigent circumstances” defined as emergency or extraordinary situations that prohibit a public meeting being held in a physical location or during a declaration of disaster emergency.
Passed by the House Education Committee
Out-of-state teacher certification reciprocity: Senate Bill 224 (Sen. Bartolotta, R-Washington) allows an out-of-state candidate who has completed any state-approved educator preparation program (which includes field placement/student teaching), from an accredited institution of higher education, to be eligible for a comparable in-state instructional certification. The bill also requires the PA Department of Education (PDE) to recognize and accept out-of-state candidates’ qualifying scores on equivalent content tests toward PDE’s testing and certification requirements. Further, the legislation would grant Pennsylvania certification to any candidate who holds a valid certificate issued by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. The committee made various technical amendments to clarify the process under the bill. PSBA supports Senate Bill 224.
EITC/OSTC dual enrollment provisions: Senate Bill 932 (Sen. Martin, R-Lancaster) amends provisions regarding the state Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) and Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit (OSTC) programs. The bill revises the current definition of “school-related fees” under the context of the EITC and OSTC programs to allow for the use of program dollars for dual enrollment courses.
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Advocacy Heroes in Action:
School districts welcome legislators in their classrooms
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Ridley, Wallingford Swarthmore students meet with Rep. Leanne Krueger: Rep. Leanne Krueger (D-Delaware) recently met with students from the Ridley and Wallingford Swarthmore school districts to discuss issues and answer questions on a variety of issues. The event was organized through PSBA’s Show Them What It Takes program with the assistance of PSBA Advocacy Ambassador Jennifer Hoff.
Rep. Zabel meets with Haverford, William Penn and Upper Darby students: Rep. Michael Zabel (D-Delaware) recently met with students from the Haverford, William Penn and Upper Darby school districts. Among the issues discussed were equity in school funding, opportunities for students, legislative efforts to improve education, and how students can be effective advocates. The event was organized through PSBA’s Show Them What It Takes program with the assistance of PSBA Advocacy Ambassador Jennifer Hoff.
Corry Area Intermediate School welcomes Rep. Sonney: Students from the Corry Area Intermediate School welcomed Rep. Curt Sonney (R-Erie). Students from the fifth grade were selected to lead Rep. Sonney on a tour of the building and interview him on several topics. The event was organized through PSBA’s Show Them What It Takes program with the assistance of PSBA Advocacy Ambassador Heather Scott.
Are you an Advocacy Hero? Under PSBA's Advocacy Engagement Program, there are many ways school directors can assist in educating legislators that have a positive impact on our public schools and students. This recognition program honors the advocacy work you are doing every day. Click here to learn more.
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