PRINTER'S NO. 863

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE BILL

No. 777 Session of 2001

        INTRODUCED BY WRIGHT, THOMAS, E. Z. TAYLOR, VANCE, BARD,
           BASTIAN, CAPPELLI, CLYMER, COLEMAN, CORRIGAN, COSTA, DALLY,
           FLICK, GODSHALL, GRUCELA, HALUSKA, HENNESSEY, HORSEY,
           JOSEPHS, MANN, McILHATTAN, MELIO, MUNDY, PIPPY, ROSS, RUBLEY,
           SAINATO, SATHER, SCHRODER, SCHULER, STABACK, STEELMAN, STEIL,
           TRAVAGLIO, C. WILLIAMS AND YOUNGBLOOD, FEBRUARY 14, 2001

        REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, FEBRUARY 14, 2001

                                     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," adding definitions; and establishing
     6     procedures for approval of cyber charter schools.

     7     The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
     8  hereby enacts as follows:
     9     Section 1.  Section 1703-A of the act of March 10, 1949
    10  (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, is
    11  amended by adding definitions to read:
    12     Section 1703-A.  Definitions.--As used in this article,
    13     * * *
    14     "Cyber charter school" shall mean a charter school designed
    15  to deliver its instructional programming by a computer system
    16  connected to the Internet.
    17     * * *
    18     "Internet" shall mean an electronic communications network

     1  that connects computer networks and organization computer
     2  facilities around the world.
     3     * * *
     4     Section 2.  Section 1718-A of the act is amended by adding a
     5  subsection to read:
     6     Section 1718-A.  Regional Charter School.--* * *
     7     (d)  A cyber charter school that proposes to deliver services
     8  to students in more than one school entity shall be considered a
     9  regional charter school for the purposes of this act. An
    10  application of a cyber charter school shall require approval
    11  pursuant to the provisions of subsection (b). No school entity
    12  shall be required to provide funding pursuant to section 1725-A
    13  for a cyber charter school unless its board has approved the
    14  application for such charter by a majority vote of its
    15  directors.
    16     Section 3.  This act shall take effect in 30 days.










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