PRINTER'S NO. 1613
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
1434
Session of
2023
INTRODUCED BY ISAACSON, MADDEN, HILL-EVANS, McNEILL, STURLA,
SMITH-WADE-EL, DELLOSO, PARKER, SANCHEZ, KINSEY, MERSKI AND
KRAJEWSKI, JUNE 20, 2023
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, JUNE 20, 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," providing for the dual credit
innovation and equity grant program.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. The act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known
as the Public School Code of 1949, is amended by adding an
article to read:
ARTICLE XV-N
DUAL CREDIT INNOVATION AND EQUITY GRANT PROGRAM
Section 1501-N. Definitions.
The following words and phrases shall have the meanings given
to them in this section unless the context clearly indicates
otherwise:
"Department." The Department of Education of the
Commonwealth.
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"Dual credit." Credit received under an agreement between a
school entity and an institution of higher education approved to
operate in the Commonwealth in which a student earns both high
school and postsecondary credit by taking a single postsecondary
course.
"Grant." A grant provided under the program.
"Program." The Dual Credit Innovation and Equity Grant
Program established in section 1502-N.
"Public institution of higher education." An institution of
the State System of Higher Education established under Article
XX-A, a community college established under Article XIX-A,
Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology established under Article
XIX-B or the rural regional college established under Article
XIX-G.
"School entity." A school district, area career and
technical school, charter school, cyber charter school or
regional charter school.
Section 1502-N. Dual Credit Innovation and Equity Grant
Program.
(a) Establishment.--The Dual Credit Innovation and Equity
Grant Program is established within the department to award
grants to public institutions of higher education that offer
dual credit opportunities to high school students enrolled in a
school entity.
(b) Use of funds.--Program funds shall be used for the
purpose of increasing the capacity for public institutions of
higher education to provide dual credit courses. Funds awarded
through a grant may be used for the following:
(1) To operate dual credit courses that are tuition free
to high school students.
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(2) To support public institutions of higher education
in seeking external accreditation for their dual credit
courses.
(3) To provide a system of wraparound student supports
to aid students enrolled in dual credit courses to be
successful in the courses and to successfully transition to
postsecondary education upon graduation from high school.
(4) To increase the use of no-cost or low-cost textbooks
or course materials used in dual credit courses.
(5) For professional development activities for high
school teachers to enable them to teach dual credit courses.
(c) Priority.--The department shall give priority in grant
funding to public institutions of higher education that expand
the current offerings of the public institution of higher
education, with a particular emphasis on providing courses
aligned with high priority career paths and serving students
experiencing education instability as defined in section 1331.1,
students enrolled in career and technical education programs,
low-income students, historically underserved student groups and
students in rural areas of the Commonwealth.
Section 1503-N. Reporting and accountability.
For the purpose of improving data collection and transparency
related to the value of dual credit courses to the success of
students as they graduate high school and transition to
postsecondary education, the department shall annually collect
student-level data from grant recipients and post aggregate, de-
identified information related to all of the following on the
department's publicly accessible Internet website:
(1) The demographics of students enrolled in dual credit
courses.
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(2) The high school graduation rate of students enrolled
in dual credit courses.
(3) The percentage of economically disadvantaged
students enrolled in dual credit courses and the percentage
of students enrolled in dual credit courses who are
economically disadvantaged.
(4) The percentage of dual credit students who enroll in
a regionally accredited postsecondary institution the fall
after graduation, within one year and within two years after
high school graduation.
(5) The number of college credits earned by students
enrolled in dual credit courses while in high school.
(6) An estimate of the cost savings to the families of
students enrolled in dual credit courses.
(7) The percentage of dual credit students who enroll in
a community college, Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology
or the Northern Pennsylvania Regional College following high
school graduation and go on to graduate or transfer to a
four-year institution within two, three and four years of
high school graduation.
(8) The percentage of dual credit students who enroll in
a State System of Higher Education institution following high
school graduation and go on to graduate in four, five or six
years.
(9) The percentage of dual credit students who attend
postsecondary institutions located in Pennsylvania following
graduation compared to those who attend out-of-State
postsecondary institutions.
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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