PRIOR PRINTER'S NO. 631
PRINTER'S NO. 1036
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
688
Session of
2023
INTRODUCED BY ROZZI, MADDEN, PROBST, SANCHEZ, HILL-EVANS,
CIRESI, GUENST, DELLOSO, HOHENSTEIN, WARREN, FREEMAN,
KINKEAD, DEASY, CEPEDA-FREYTIZ, KIM, CONKLIN, TAKAC AND
STURLA, MARCH 23, 2023
AS REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES, AS AMENDED, APRIL 25, 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," establishing the PA Teach TEACHER
PIPELINE Scholarship Program; AND imposing duties on the
Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency and the State
System of Higher Education; and making an appropriation
CERTAIN INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION.
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 XX-L
PA TEACH TEACHER PIPELINE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
Section 2001-L. Purpose.
The purpose of this article is to help ensure an excellent
education within the public schools of this Commonwealth by
addressing the lack of teachers that has jeopardized the
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provision of the constitutionally required thorough and
efficient system of public education afforded to all children in
this Commonwealth.
Section 2002-L. 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:
"Academic year." A complete school year commencing on or
after August 1 of the calendar year.
"Agency." The Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance
Agency.
"Cost of attendance." The direct and indirect costs relating
to attendance at an institution. The term includes tuition and
fees, room and board or living expenses, books, supplies,
transportation, loan fees, the documented cost of a personal
computer and other school-related miscellaneous expenses,
allowance for child care or other dependent care, costs related
to a disability, eligible study-abroad programs, costs related
to student teaching and any other costs approved by the agency.
"Eligible student." An individual who meets the eligibility
criteria specified in section 2004-L.
"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 ESTABLISHED UNDER ARTICLE XX-A.
(3) THE PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY, THE UNIVERSITY OF
PITTSBURGH, TEMPLE UNIVERSITY, LINCOLN UNIVERSITY OR ANY
OTHER INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION DESIGNATED AS "STATE-
RELATED" BY THE COMMONWEALTH.
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(4) AN INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION OPERATED NOT FOR
PROFIT, LOCATED IN AND INCORPORATED OR CHARTERED BY THE
COMMONWEALTH AND ENTITLED TO CONFER DEGREES AS SPECIFIED IN
24 PA.C.S. § 6505 (RELATING TO POWER TO CONFER DEGREES) AND
TO APPLY ITSELF THE DESIGNATION "COLLEGE" OR "UNIVERSITY" AS
PROVIDED FOR BY THE STANDARDS AND QUALIFICATIONS PRESCRIBED
BY THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION UNDER 24 PA.C.S. CH. 65
(RELATING TO PRIVATE COLLEGES, UNIVERSITIES AND SEMINARIES).
"Program." The PA Teach TEACHER PIPELINE Scholarship Program
established under section 2003-L.
"State system." The State System of Higher Education
established under Article XX-A.
"PUBLIC SCHOOL ENTITY." A SCHOOL DISTRICT, CAREER AND
TECHNICAL SCHOOL, INTERMEDIATE UNIT, CHARTER SCHOOL, REGIONAL
CHARTER SCHOOL OR CYBER CHARTER SCHOOL.
"TEACHER." AN INDIVIDUAL WHO HOLDS AN INSTRUCTIONAL
CERTIFICATE ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION UNDER THIS ACT
AND IS EMPLOYED FULL TIME AS A TEMPORARY PROFESSIONAL OR
PROFESSIONAL EMPLOYEE BY A PUBLIC SCHOOL ENTITY AND PROVIDES
LEARNING EXPERIENCES DIRECTLY TO STUDENTS DURING THE
INSTRUCTIONAL DAY.
Section 2003-L. PA Teach TEACHER PIPELINE Scholarship Program.
(a) Establishment.--The PA Teach TEACHER PIPELINE
Scholarship Program is established within the agency.
(b) Scholarship grant.--The agency shall provide a
scholarship grant to an eligible student who is a resident of
this Commonwealth. The scholarship grant shall be applied
against the cost of attendance. The scholarship grant shall be
for the amount provided under section 2004-L.
(c) Other funding.--Prior to receiving a scholarship grant
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under this article, a student must also apply for Federal Pell
Grants and State grants available to cover the cost of
attendance, as determined by the agency.
(d) Order of financial aid.-- An institution of the State
system shall apply a scholarship grant received by an eligible
student with other financial aid in the following order:
(1) Federal Pell Grant or any successor program.
(2) Pennsylvania State grants.
(3) Institutional aid.
(4) Private scholarships.
(5) Scholarship grants awarded under section 2004-L.
(6) Federal work study.
(7) Federal student loans.
(1) AN INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION SHALL APPLY THE
FOLLOWING STUDENT AID GRANTS RECEIVED BY AN ELIGIBLE STUDENT
WHO IS AWARDED A SCHOLARSHIP GRANT PRIOR TO APPLYING A
SCHOLARSHIP GRANT UNDER SECTION 2004-L:
(I) FEDERAL GRANTS.
(II) STATE GRANTS.
(III) INSTITUTIONAL AID.
(IV) PRIVATE SCHOLARSHIPS.
(2) SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS AWARDED UNDER SECTION 2004-L AND
STUDENT AID GRANTS LISTED IN PARAGRAPH (1) SHALL BE APPLIED
PRIOR TO WORK STUDY OR LOAN AWARDS.
Section 2004-L. Scholarship grant.
(a) Eligibility.--To receive a scholarship grant, a student
must meet the following requirements:
(1) Attend a university within the State system AN
INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION .
(2) Be enrolled in an approved course of study in
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education or another program that is designed to prepare the
student to become a teacher in an elementary or secondary
school A PUBLIC SCHOOL ENTITY .
(3) Maintain domicile RESIDENCE in this Commonwealth
during the term of the scholarship grant WHILE ATTENDING AN
INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION .
(4) Enter into a written agreement with the agency in a
form and manner that the agency shall determine to do all of
the following:
(i) Commence employment AS A TEACHER in this
Commonwealth within one year after completion of the
approved course of study. NOTWITHSTANDING ANY OTHER
PROVISION OF LAW, A CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION
TEACHER MAY NOT BE EXCLUDED FROM RECEIVING A SCHOLARSHIP
GRANT IF THE INDIVIDUAL COMMENCES WORK FOR A CAREER AND
TECHNICAL SCHOOL PRIOR TO RECEIVING AN INSTRUCTIONAL
CERTIFICATION.
(ii) Work within this Commonwealth AS A TEACHER FOR
A PUBLIC SCHOOL ENTITY LOCATED IN THIS COMMONWEALTH for a
period of one year for each academic year that the
eligible student received a scholarship grant under this
article, unless the agency determines that there are
extenuating circumstances.
(iii) Reimburse the Commonwealth all amounts
received under this article if the eligible student does
not comply with subparagraphs (i) and (ii).
(b) Student teaching.--An eligible student who is engaged in
student teaching shall be eligible to receive a scholarship
grant.
(c) Amount.--The agency may award a scholarship grant in an
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amount up to $8,000 per academic year to an eligible student.
(d) Renewal.--The scholarship grant may be renewed for up to
four academic years.
(e) Application.--An eligible student shall apply to the
agency for a scholarship grant as prescribed by the agency.
(f) Termination.--If a student who receives a scholarship
grant terminates enrollment at the university INSTITUTION OF
HIGHER EDUCATION during the academic year or prior to completion
of the approved course of study, the university INSTITUTION OF
HIGHER EDUCATION shall notify the agency in writing. The
university INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION shall return all
unused portions of the scholarship grant. The returned portion
shall be used to fund other scholarship grants under this
article.
(g) Transfer.--A scholarship grant is only transferrable if
the student transfers to another university within the State
system INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION IN AN ELIGIBLE COURSE OF
STUDY OR PROGRAM .
(h) Limitations.--A scholarship grant awarded under the
program shall be made from funds appropriated for that purpose.
First priority for the awarding of grants shall be given to
renewal applicants. Thereafter, a grant shall be awarded on a
first-come, first-served basis.
Section 2005-L. Miscellaneous provisions.
(a) Enforcement.--The agency shall enforce repayment of all
scholarship grants for a student who does not comply with the
provisions of this article. The agency may use all lawful
collection procedures and may use private collection agencies.
(b) Scholarship grant not taxable income.--Scholarship
grants received by an eligible student shall not be considered
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taxable income for purposes of Article III of the act of March
4, 1971 (P.L.6, No.2), known as the Tax Reform Code of 1971.
(c) Regulations.--The agency shall adopt regulations,
(C) REGULATIONS AND GUIDELINES.--
(1) THE AGENCY SHALL ADOPT REGULATIONS, guidelines and
procedures necessary to carry out this article.
(2) THE AGENCY MAY ESTABLISH GUIDELINES AND RESTRICTIONS
ON THE COURSES OF STUDY AND PROGRAMS ELIGIBLE FOR
PARTICIPATION TO ENSURE THAT THE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF STUDENTS
RECEIVING GRANTS COMPLETE THEIR DEGREES AND ENTER AN
EDUCATION PROFESSION WITHIN THIS COMMONWEALTH.
(d) Report.--The agency shall annually publish on the
agency's publicly accessible Internet website a report on the
program. The report shall include information regarding the
operation of the program, including:
(1) The number of students receiving an award at each
university within the State system INSTITUTION OF HIGHER
EDUCATION .
(2) Demographic and income statistics of students
receiving an award.
(3) Outcome measures, including:
(i) The number of students receiving an award who go
on to teach in schools in this Commonwealth.
(ii) The number of students receiving an award who
stay in this Commonwealth after graduation.
(III) THE NUMBER OF GRANT RECIPIENTS CURRENTLY
EMPLOYED BY A PUBLIC SCHOOL ENTITY AFTER THREE YEARS .
(IV) THE NUMBER OF GRANT RECIPIENTS CURRENTLY
EMPLOYED BY A PUBLIC SCHOOL ENTITY AFTER FIVE YEARS.
(iii) (V) Any other measures determined by the
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agency . or requested by the State system.
(e) Appropriation.--The sum of $50,000,000 is appropriated
from the General Fund to the agency for the current fiscal year
for the program. The General Assembly shall appropriate funds
for the program for the following fiscal years.
(E) ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS.--FROM FUNDS APPROPRIATED TO THE
AGENCY FOR THE PROGRAM, THE AGENCY MAY RETAIN A REASONABLE
AMOUNT NECESSARY TO PAY FOR DIRECT COSTS TO IMPLEMENT THE
PROGRAM, NOT TO EXCEED 5%. THE AGENCY SHALL INCLUDE AN ESTIMATE
OF COSTS TO ADMINISTER THE PROGRAM WITHIN ITS ANNUAL SUBMISSIONS
UNDER SECTION 610 OF THE ACT OF APRIL 9, 1929 (P.L.177, NO.175),
KNOWN AS THE ADMINISTRATIVE CODE OF 1929.
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 90 days.
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