Test Drive Our New Site! We have some improvements in the works that we're excited for you to experience. Click here to try our new, faster, mobile friendly beta site. We will be maintaining our current version of the site thru the end of 2024, so you can switch back as our improvements continue.
Legislation Quick Search
Advanced Search
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
05/20/2024 02:52 PM
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/Legis/CSM/showMemoPublic.cfm?SPick=20130&chamber=H&cosponId=11458
Share:
Home / House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda

House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda

Subscribe to PaLegis Notifications
NEW!

Subscribe to receive notifications of new Co-Sponsorship Memos circulated

By Member | By Date | Keyword Search


House of Representatives
Session of 2013 - 2014 Regular Session

MEMORANDUM

Posted: January 31, 2013 03:52 PM
From: Representative Rosemary M. Brown
To: All House members
Subject: Character Education in Public Schools
 
I am preparing to introduce a resolution that will call on the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee (LB&FC) to conduct a study of the status of character education in the public schools of this Commonwealth.
Current law permits, but does not require, school districts to establish and implement character education programs, which may include and teach the following basic civil values and character traits:
  • Trustworthiness, including honesty, integrity, reliability and loyalty;
  • Respect, including regard for others, tolerance and courtesy;
  • Responsibility, including hard work, economic self-reliance, accountability, diligence, perseverance and self-control;
  • Fairness, including justice, consequences of bad behavior, principles of nondiscrimination and freedom from prejudice;
  • Caring, including kindness, empathy, compassion, consideration, generosity and charity; and
  • Citizenship, including love of country, concern for the common good, respect for authority and the law and community mindedness.

Further, current law assigns certain powers and duties to the Department of Education (PDE) with respect to character education, including establishing criteria and guidelines and providing school districts with resources and technical assistance with respect to the establishment and implementation of character education programs.
Under my proposal, the House of Representatives will direct LB&FC to conduct a study of the status of character education in the public schools of this Commonwealth. LB&FC will be directed to see input from PDE and the school districts of this Commonwealth in conducting the study, which will include:
  • The number of school districts in this Commonwealth that offer a character education program;
  • The nature of the character education programs that are offered by school districts in this Commonwealth;
  • The actions PDE has taken to comply with current law related to character education; and
  • Recommendations with respect to character education for elementary and secondary public school students in this Commonwealth, including recommended legislation.


Introduced as HR108