Regular Session 2023-2024 House Bill 1875 P.N. 2418

PRIOR PRINTER'S NO. 2404

PRINTER'S NO. 2418

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE BILL

No.

1875

Session of

2023

INTRODUCED BY MALAGARI, SANCHEZ, MADDEN, BOROWSKI, KAZEEM, HILL-

EVANS, ROZZI, M. MACKENZIE, FLEMING, CERRATO, GREEN, OTTEN,

WAXMAN, KINSEY, SHUSTERMAN, CEPEDA-FREYTIZ, GAYDOS AND

FREEMAN, DECEMBER 11, 2023

AS REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, HOUSE OF

REPRESENTATIVES, AS AMENDED, DECEMBER 12, 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 reimbursements by Commonwealth and

between school districts, further providing for advanced

placement and international baccalaureate exam fees and

providing for advanced course fee assistance.

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 CERTIFICATION OF TEACHERS, FURTHER

PROVIDING FOR CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT; PROVIDING

FOR ACCESS TO ADVANCED COURSES FOR ALL STUDENTS; ESTABLISHING

THE ACCESS TO ADVANCED COURSES FOR ALL STUDENTS GRANT

PROGRAM; AND IMPOSING DUTIES ON THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

hereby enacts as follows:

Section 1. Section 2599.8(a) of the act of March 10, 1949

(P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, is

amended to read:

Section 2599.8. Advanced Placement and International

Baccalaureate Exam Fees.--(a) [Commencing with] For the 2019-

<--

2020 school year through the 2023-2024 school year, the

Department of Education shall provide advanced placement and

International Baccalaureate exam fee assistance to students with

financial need.

* * *

Section 2. The act is amended by adding a section to read:

Section 2599.9. Advanced Course Fee Assistance.--(a)

Commencing with the 2024-2025 school year, the department shall

provide advanced course exam fee assistance to each student.

(b) The exam fee assistance provided by the department shall

cover eighty percent (80%) of the exam fee for each student.

percent (20%) of the exam fee for each student with financial

need and may cover some or all of the remaining twenty percent

(20%) of the exam fee for each student without financial need.

The school entity may use Federal funds to cover the school

entity's portion of the exam fee.

(c.1) The per-exam cost charged to students for an exam

shall not exceed the rate paid by students with financial need

for advanced course exams during the 2018-2019 school year.

(d) The exam fee assistance shall only be provided to

students who complete an advanced course and choose to take an

exam for that course.

(e) As used in this section, the following words and phrases

shall have the meanings given to them in this subsection unless

the context clearly indicates otherwise:

"Advanced course." An academically rigorous college-level

course delivered to high school students by an educator that

includes an end-of-course examination that qualifies students to

earn college credit for prior learning.

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"Department." The Department of Education of the

Commonwealth.

"Exam fee." The amount required to take an exam to receive

credit for an advanced course.

"School entity." Any of the following which operate within

this Commonwealth:

(1) A public school.

(2) An intermediate unit.

(3) An area career and technical school.

"Student with financial need." A student who:

(1) has an annual household income no greater than one

hundred eighty-five percent (185%) of the Federal poverty level;

(2) is in foster care, homeless or a migrant; or

(3) lives in a household that received benefits under the

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or Temporary

Assistance for Needy Families Program.

Section 3. This act shall take effect in 60 days.

SECTION 1. SECTION 1205.1(C.1)(3) OF THE ACT OF MARCH 10,

1949 (P.L.30, NO.14), KNOWN AS THE PUBLIC SCHOOL CODE OF 1949,

IS AMENDED TO READ:

SECTION 1205.1. CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT.--* * *

(C.1) THE CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION PLAN SHALL

SPECIFY THE PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION NEEDS THAT WILL BE MET BY

COMPLETION OF EACH CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION OPTION AND

HOW IT RELATES TO AREAS OF ASSIGNMENT AND CERTIFICATION OR

POTENTIAL ADMINISTRATIVE CERTIFICATION. THE OPTIONS MAY INCLUDE,

BUT SHALL NOT BE LIMITED TO:

* * *

(3) OTHER PROGRAMS, ACTIVITIES OR LEARNING EXPERIENCES TAKEN

FOR CREDIT OR HOURLY, TO INCLUDE:

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(I) CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT AND OTHER PROGRAM DESIGN AND

DELIVERY ACTIVITIES AT THE SCHOOL ENTITY OR GRADE LEVEL AS

DETERMINED BY THE SCHOOL ENTITY AND APPROVED BY THE BOARD OF

DIRECTORS;

(II) PARTICIPATION IN PROFESSIONAL CONFERENCES AND

WORKSHOPS;

(III) EDUCATION IN THE WORKPLACE, WHERE THE WORK RELATES TO

THE PROFESSIONAL EDUCATOR'S AREA OF ASSIGNMENT AND IS APPROVED

BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS;

(IV) REVIEW, REDESIGN AND RESTRUCTURING OF SCHOOL PROGRAMS,

ORGANIZATIONS AND FUNCTIONS AS DETERMINED BY THE SCHOOL ENTITY

AND APPROVED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS;

(V) IN-SERVICE PROGRAMS THAT COMPLY WITH GUIDELINES

ESTABLISHED BY THE DEPARTMENT;

(VI) EARLY CHILDHOOD AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES FOR

PROFESSIONAL EDUCATORS WHOSE AREA OF ASSIGNMENT INCLUDES

KINDERGARTEN THROUGH THIRD GRADE;

(VII) SPECIAL EDUCATION ACTIVITIES FOR PROFESSIONAL

EDUCATORS WHOSE AREA OF ASSIGNMENT INCLUDES STUDENTS WITH

SPECIAL NEEDS;

(VIII) SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF DEPARTMENT TRAINING FOR

SERVICE AS A DISTINGUISHED EDUCATOR IF THE PROFESSIONAL EDUCATOR

PARTICIPATES IN AND COMPLETES AT LEAST ONE ASSIGNMENT IN THE

DISTINGUISHED EDUCATORS PROGRAM;

(IX) OTHER CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION COURSES,

PROGRAMS, ACTIVITIES OR LEARNING EXPERIENCES SPONSORED BY THE

DEPARTMENT; [OR]

(X) VISITS BY EDUCATORS TO A MANUFACTURING WORKPLACE FOR

ORIENTATION AND DEMONSTRATIONS TO GIVE THE PROFESSIONAL EDUCATOR

A GREATER UNDERSTANDING OF JOB OPPORTUNITIES IN MANUFACTURING

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FOR STUDENTS[.]; OR

(XI) PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR EDUCATORS TO SERVE AS

ADVANCED COURSEWORK COACHES TO SUPPORT TEACHERS IN DELIVERING

HIGH-QUALITY ADVANCED COURSEWORK INSTRUCTION.

* * *

SECTION 2. THE ACT IS AMENDED BY ADDING AN ARTICLE TO READ:

ARTICLE XVII-E

ACCESS TO ADVANCED COURSES FOR ALL STUDENTS

SECTION 1701-E. SCOPE OF ARTICLE.

THIS ARTICLE RELATES TO ACCESS TO ADVANCED COURSES FOR ALL

STUDENTS.

SECTION 1702-E. DEFINITIONS.

THE FOLLOWING WORDS AND PHRASES WHEN USED IN THIS ARTICLE

SHALL HAVE THE MEANINGS GIVEN TO THEM IN THIS SECTION UNLESS THE

CONTEXT CLEARLY INDICATES OTHERWISE:

"ADVANCED COURSE." AN ACADEMICALLY RIGOROUS COLLEGE-LEVEL

COURSE DELIVERED TO SECONDARY STUDENTS BY AN ELIGIBLE EDUCATOR

THAT INCLUDES AN END-OF-COURSE EXAM THAT QUALIFIES STUDENTS TO

EARN COLLEGE CREDIT FOR PRIOR LEARNING.

"CORE ACADEMIC AREAS." MATHEMATICS, ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS,

SCIENCE, SOCIAL STUDIES AND COMPUTER SCIENCE.

"DEPARTMENT." THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION OF THE

COMMONWEALTH.

"EDUCATOR." A "PROFESSIONAL EMPLOYE," "TEMPORARY

PROFESSIONAL EMPLOYE" OR "SUBSTITUTE" AS THOSE TERMS ARE DEFINED

IN SECTION 1101.

"EDUCATOR TRAINING ENTITY." AN INSTITUTION OF HIGHER

EDUCATION, INTERMEDIATE UNIT OR OTHER ORGANIZATION APPROVED BY

THE DEPARTMENT TO TRAIN EDUCATORS TO TEACH ADVANCED COURSES. FOR

COURSES, THE EDUCATOR TRAINING ENTITY SHALL ALSO BE ENDORSED BY

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THE PROVIDER OF ADVANCED COURSE WORK.

"ELIGIBLE EDUCATOR." AN EDUCATOR WHO IS CERTIFIED IN THE

SUBJECT AREA OF THE ADVANCED COURSE THAT THE EDUCATOR WILL BE

TEACHING.

"ELIGIBLE SCHOOL ENTITY." A SCHOOL ENTITY THAT DOES NOT MEET

THE MINIMUM BENCHMARKS FOR ADVANCED COURSE OFFERINGS ESTABLISHED

BY THE DEPARTMENT UNDER SECTION 1703-E(B)(2)(I) OR IS UNABLE TO

OFFER AN ADVANCED COURSE DUE TO THE RETIREMENT, DEPARTURE OR

OTHER LOSS OF AN EDUCATOR WHO TEACHES AN ADVANCED COURSE.

"EXAM FEE." THE AMOUNT REQUIRED TO TAKE AN EXAM ASSOCIATED

WITH AN ADVANCED COURSE.

"INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION." THE TERM INCLUDES ANY OF

THE FOLLOWING:

(1) A COMMUNITY COLLEGE OPERATING UNDER ARTICLE XIX-A.

(2) A UNIVERSITY WITHIN THE STATE SYSTEM OF HIGHER

EDUCATION UNDER ARTICLE XX-A.

(3) A STATE-RELATED INSTITUTION AS DEFINED IN SECTION

1502-A.

(4) ANY ACCREDITED NONPROFIT PUBLIC, PRIVATE OR

INDEPENDENT COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY.

"PROGRAM." THE ACCESS TO ADVANCED COURSES FOR ALL STUDENTS

GRANT PROGRAM ESTABLISHED UNDER SECTION 1704-E.

"SCHOOL ENTITY." A SCHOOL DISTRICT, AREA CAREER AND

TECHNICAL SCHOOL, CHARTER SCHOOL OR REGIONAL CHARTER SCHOOL

OPERATING IN THIS COMMONWEALTH.

"SECONDARY STUDENT." A STUDENT IN GRADES SEVEN THROUGH

TWELVE WHO IS ENROLLED IN A SCHOOL ENTITY.

"VIRTUAL LEARNING INSTRUCTION." THE PROVISION OF ACADEMIC

COURSES AND INSTRUCTION TO STUDENTS THROUGH THE INTERNET OR THE

USE OF VIDEO OR AUDIO TECHNOLOGY.

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SECTION 1703-E. EQUITABLE ACCESS TO ADVANCED COURSES.

(A) ACCESS.-- BEGINNING WITH THE 2025-2026 SCHOOL YEAR, EACH

SCHOOL ENTITY RECEIVING A GRANT UNDER SECTION 1704-E(B) SHALL

PROVIDE SECONDARY STUDENTS WITH EXPANDED OPPORTUNITIES TO ENROLL

IN ADVANCED COURSES AS WELL AS EXAM FEE ASSISTANCE, AS

APPROPRIATE.

(B) DUTIES.--

(1) NO LATER THAN SEPTEMBER 1, 2024, AND EVERY FIVE

YEARS THEREAFTER, EACH SCHOOL ENTITY SHALL REPORT TO THE

DEPARTMENT, IN A MANNER DETERMINED BY THE DEPARTMENT, ALL

ADVANCED COURSE OFFERINGS THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO THE SCHOOL

ENTITY'S SECONDARY STUDENTS FOR THE CURRENT SCHOOL YEAR AS

WELL AS THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS PARTICIPATING IN ADVANCED

COURSES, COMPLETING ADVANCED COURSES AND TAKING AN END-OF-

COURSE EXAM.

(2) NO LATER THAN DECEMBER 1, 2024, AND EVERY FIVE YEARS

THEREAFTER, THE DEPARTMENT SHALL:

(I) ESTABLISH BENCHMARKS TO IMPROVE SECONDARY

STUDENT ACCESS TO AND ENROLLMENT IN ADVANCED COURSES.

(II) IDENTIFY SCHOOL ENTITIES THAT REQUIRE INTENSIVE

ASSISTANCE TO IMPROVE SECONDARY STUDENT ACCESS TO AND

ENROLLMENT IN ADVANCED COURSES.

(III) PREPARE A REPORT CONTAINING THE INFORMATION

PROVIDED UNDER PARAGRAPH (1), AS WELL AS THE BENCHMARKS

ESTABLISHED AND SCHOOL DISTRICTS IDENTIFIED UNDER

SUBPARAGRAPHS (I) AND (II), AND POST THE REPORT ON THE

DEPARTMENT'S PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE INTERNET WEBSITE.

BEGINNING WITH THE REPORT REQUIRED TO BE POSTED ON

DECEMBER 1, 2029, THE REPORT SHALL INCLUDE AN EXPLANATION

OF WHETHER SCHOOL ENTITIES IN THIS COMMONWEALTH ARE

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PROGRESSING OR REGRESSING IN IMPROVING SECONDARY STUDENT

ACCESS TO AND ENROLLMENT IN ADVANCED COURSES.

SECTION 1704-E. ACCESS TO ADVANCED COURSES FOR ALL STUDENTS

GRANT PROGRAM.

(A) PURPOSE.--THE ACCESS TO ADVANCED COURSES FOR ALL

STUDENTS GRANT PROGRAM IS ESTABLISHED IN THE DEPARTMENT TO HELP

ENSURE THAT ALL SCHOOL ENTITIES HAVE PROPERLY TRAINED EDUCATORS

TO MEET THE ADVANCED COURSE BENCHMARKS ESTABLISHED UNDER SECTION

1703-E(B)(2)(I) AND TO PROVIDE ADVANCED COURSE EXAM FEE

ASSISTANCE TO STUDENTS.

(B) EDUCATOR TRAINING GRANTS TO SCHOOL ENTITIES.--

(1) A SCHOOL ENTITY THAT DOES NOT MEET A MINIMUM

ADVANCED COURSE BENCHMARK ESTABLISHED BY THE DEPARTMENT UNDER

SECTION 1703-E(B)(2)(I) SHALL BE ELIGIBLE FOR ANNUAL GRANTS

FOR A MAXIMUM OF FIVE CONSECUTIVE YEARS TO TRAIN EDUCATORS TO

TEACH ADVANCED COURSES TO ENABLE THE SCHOOL ENTITY TO MEET

THE BENCHMARK AND FURTHER EXPAND ACCESS TO ADVANCED COURSES

BEYOND THE BENCHMARK OVER THE FIVE-YEAR GRANT PERIOD.

(2) THE DEPARTMENT MAY LIMIT THE NUMBER OF EDUCATORS PER

SCHOOL BUILDING WITHIN AN ELIGIBLE SCHOOL ENTITY FOR WHOM THE

ELIGIBLE SCHOOL ENTITY MAY RECEIVE AN EDUCATOR TRAINING

GRANT.

(3) MULTIPLE ELIGIBLE SCHOOL ENTITIES MAY APPLY JOINTLY

FOR AN EDUCATOR TRAINING GRANT UNDER THE PROGRAM IF THE

EDUCATORS TO BE TRAINED WILL PROVIDE INSTRUCTION IN MORE THAN

ONE ELIGIBLE SCHOOL ENTITY THROUGH CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION OR

VIRTUAL LEARNING INSTRUCTION.

(4) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL DEVELOP AN APPLICATION PROCESS

AND APPLICATION FORM FOR AN ELIGIBLE SCHOOL ENTITY SEEKING AN

EDUCATOR TRAINING GRANT UNDER THE PROGRAM. THE APPLICATION

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FORM SHALL INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING:

(I) THE SUBJECT AREAS IN WHICH THE ELIGIBLE SCHOOL

ENTITY CURRENTLY HAS ADVANCED COURSE OFFERINGS.

(II) THE SUBJECT AREAS IN WHICH THE ELIGIBLE SCHOOL

ENTITY DOES NOT HAVE ADVANCED COURSE OFFERINGS.

(III) THE ELIGIBLE SCHOOL ENTITY'S PLAN TO EXPAND

AND INCREASE ADVANCED COURSE PARTICIPATION WITHIN THE

ELIGIBLE SCHOOL ENTITY, INCLUDING FOR STUDENT POPULATIONS

THAT HAVE BEEN TRADITIONALLY UNDERSERVED, AND HOW AN

EDUCATOR TRAINING GRANT WILL HELP EXPEDITE THE ELIGIBLE

SCHOOL ENTITY'S PROGRESS TOWARD ITS ADVANCED COURSE

PARTICIPATION GOALS.

(IV) THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION:

(A) THE NAMES OF THE ELIGIBLE EDUCATORS TO BE

TRAINED USING EDUCATOR TRAINING GRANT PROCEEDS.

(B) THE SCHOOL BUILDINGS WITHIN THE ELIGIBLE

SCHOOL ENTITY WHERE THE ELIGIBLE EDUCATORS WILL

TEACH.

THE ELIGIBLE EDUCATORS WILL PROVIDE INSTRUCTION.

(D) WHETHER THE INSTRUCTION WILL BE PROVIDED

THROUGH TRADITIONAL CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION OR VIRTUAL

LEARNING INSTRUCTION.

(V) THE NAMES OF THE EDUCATOR TRAINING ENTITIES THAT

WILL TRAIN THE ELIGIBLE EDUCATORS TO TEACH ADVANCED

COURSES.

(VI) AN AGREEMENT THAT THE ELIGIBLE SCHOOL ENTITY

WILL COMMIT TO OFFERING THE ADVANCED COURSES TO SECONDARY

STUDENTS FOR AT LEAST FIVE YEARS.

(5) BY JUNE 30 OF EACH YEAR, EACH SCHOOL ENTITY THAT

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RECEIVES AN EDUCATOR TRAINING GRANT UNDER THIS SECTION SHALL

REPORT TO THE DEPARTMENT THE FOLLOWING FOR THE IMMEDIATELY

PRECEDING SCHOOL YEAR IN A FORM AND MANNER DETERMINED BY THE

DEPARTMENT:

(I) THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS WHO ENROLLED IN AN

ADVANCED COURSE TAUGHT BY AN EDUCATOR WHO RECEIVED

TRAINING FUNDED BY THE GRANT AND THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS

WHO COMPLETED THE COURSE.

(II) THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS WHO TOOK AN END-OF-

COURSE EXAM IN AND ADVANCED COURSE TAUGHT BY AN EDUCATOR

WHO RECEIVED TRAINING FUNDED BY THE GRANT.

(III) THE GRADE LEVELS IN WHICH ADVANCED COURSES

WERE TAUGHT.

(IV) THE NUMBER OF EDUCATORS WHO RECEIVED TRAINING

FUNDED BY THE GRANT WHO TAUGHT ADVANCED COURSES WITHIN

THE SCHOOL ENTITY.

2025 SCHOOL YEAR, THE DEPARTMENT SHALL PROVIDE ADVANCED COURSE

EXAM FEE ASSISTANCE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FOLLOWING:

(1) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL REIMBURSE SCHOOL ENTITIES 100%

OF THE EXAM FEE FOR EACH STUDENT WHO COMPLETES AN ADVANCED

COURSE FOR WHICH THE STUDENT IS REQUIRED OR CHOOSES TO TAKE

AN EXAM.

(2) ON AN ANNUAL BASIS, EACH SCHOOL ENTITY SHALL CERTIFY

TO THE DEPARTMENT THE AMOUNT OF REIMBURSEMENT DUE UNDER

PARAGRAPH (1) IN ACCORDANCE WITH GUIDELINES DEVELOPED BY THE

DEPARTMENT AND POSTED ON THE DEPARTMENT'S PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE

INTERNET WEBSITE.

SECTION 1705-E. POWERS AND DUTIES OF DEPARTMENT.

(A) RULES.--THE DEPARTMENT SHALL PROMULGATE RULES AND

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PROCEDURES NECESSARY FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS ARTICLE.

(B) REPORT.--BY SEPTEMBER 1, 2026, AND EVERY FIVE YEARS

THEREAFTER, THE DEPARTMENT SHALL ISSUE A REPORT ON THE PROGRAM

TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY THAT INCLUDES:

(1) THE NUMBER OF EDUCATORS IN SCHOOL ENTITIES WHO

RECEIVED TRAINING IN ADVANCED COURSE INSTRUCTION DELINEATED

BY TYPE OF ADVANCED COURSE INSTRUCTION.

(2) THE NUMBER AND PERCENTAGE OF SCHOOLS ENROLLING

SECONDARY STUDENTS THAT OFFER ADVANCED COURSES AND THE CHANGE

IN ADVANCED COURSE OFFERINGS OVER THE FIVE-YEAR GRANT PERIOD.

(3) THE NUMBER AND PERCENTAGE OF SECONDARY STUDENTS WHO

COMPLETED ADVANCED COURSES AT SCHOOL ENTITIES.

(4) THE NUMBER AND PERCENTAGE OF SECONDARY STUDENTS WHO

ACHIEVED A QUALIFYING SCORE, REPORTED SEPARATELY FROM AN

ADVANCED COURSE EXAM AT SCHOOL ENTITIES.

(5) THE NUMBER AND PERCENTAGE OF INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER

EDUCATION LOCATED WITHIN THIS COMMONWEALTH THAT PROVIDE

ACADEMIC COURSE CREDIT FOR ADVANCED COURSE EXAM SCORES.

(6) THE NAMES OF THE SCHOOL ENTITIES AND HIGH SCHOOLS

THAT DO NOT OFFER ADVANCED COURSES OR ARE BELOW THE MINIMUM

BENCHMARK ESTABLISHED BY THE DEPARTMENT UNDER SECTION 1703-

E(B)(2)(I).

(7) THE NUMBER OF EDUCATORS WHO WHERE TRAINED TO TEACH

ADVANCED COURSES OUTSIDE THE CORE ACADEMIC AREAS WHO ARE

TEACHING OTHER ADVANCED COURSES.

SECTION 1706-E. PROGRAM FUNDING.

(A) FUNDING.--FUNDING FOR THE PROGRAM SHALL BE MADE FROM

ANNUAL APPROPRIATIONS MADE BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO THE

DEPARTMENT FOR THAT PURPOSE, AS WELL AS AVAILABLE FEDERAL FUNDS

OR FUNDS FROM PRIVATE SOURCES.

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(B) PRIORITIES.--IN THE EVENT OF INSUFFICIENT FUNDS IN ANY

FISCAL YEAR, THE DEPARTMENT SHALL PRIORITIZE FUNDING OF ELIGIBLE

SCHOOL ENTITIES BASED ON THE ELIGIBLE SCHOOL ENTITY'S POVERTY

LEVEL AND DEFICIENCY IN PROVIDING ADVANCED COURSE OPPORTUNITIES

AS COMPARED TO THE BENCHMARK ESTABLISHED BY THE DEPARTMENT UNDER

SECTION 1703-E(B)(2)(I).

SECTION 1707-E. RIGHTS OF SCHOOL EMPLOYEES.

NOTHING IN THIS ARTICLE SHALL BE CONSTRUED TO SUPERSEDE OR

PREEMPT THE RIGHTS, REMEDIES AND PROCEDURES AFFORDED TO SCHOOL

EMPLOYEES OR LABOR ORGANIZATIONS UNDER FEDERAL OR STATE LAW,

INCLUDING THE ACT OF JULY 23, 1970 (P.L.563, NO.195), KNOWN AS

THE PUBLIC EMPLOYE RELATIONS ACT, OR ANY PROVISION OF A

COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT NEGOTIATED BETWEEN A SCHOOL

EMPLOYER AND AN EXCLUSIVE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE EMPLOYEES IN

ACCORDANCE WITH THAT ACT.

SECTION 3. THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT IN 60 DAYS.

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