PRINTER'S NO. 852
No. 796 Session of 1997
INTRODUCED BY GREENLEAF AND RHOADES, APRIL 1, 1997
REFERRED TO EDUCATION, APRIL 1, 1997
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," further providing for kindergartens.
6 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
7 hereby enacts as follows:
8 Section 1. Section 503 of the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30,
9 No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, amended
10 September 21, 1959 (P.L.925, No.373) and October 21, 1965
11 (P.L.601, No.312), is amended to read:
12 Section 503. Kindergartens.--(a) The board of school
13 directors in any school district may establish and maintain
14 kindergartens for children between the ages of [four] three and
15 six years. When established, the kindergartens shall be an
16 integral part of the elementary school system of the district,
17 and be kept open for not less than two and one-half hours each
18 day for the full school term as provided in section 1501.
19 (b) The number of kindergartens in any one district shall be
1 fixed by the board of school directors, and shall be open during
2 the school year. When established, kindergartens shall be
3 available to all children residing in the school district who
4 are of the age fixed under subsection (a) of this section.
5 [If the average attendance in any one kindergarten in any
6 district is ten or less for the school year, the school
7 directors shall, at the close of the school year, discontinue
8 the same.]
9 (c) The board of school directors shall appoint and assign a
10 sufficient number of teachers to such kindergartens, who shall
11 be certified in accordance with the rules and regulations
12 prescribed by the [Council of Basic Education] State Board of
13 Education.
14 Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 1997, or
15 immediately, whichever is later.
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