Pennsylvania Act 2024-25 — PUBLIC SCHOOL CODE OF 1949 - MOMENT OF SILENCE ON SEPTEMBER 11 ANNIVERSARY

Act text

Session of 2024

No. 2024-25

HB 1097

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," in terms and courses of study, providing for moment of silence on September 11 anniversary.

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 a section to read:

Section 1555. Moment of Silence on September 11 Anniversary. --(a) Each school entity shall conduct a moment of silence during instructional hours for students and faculty to observe the anniversary of September 11, 2001, as a remembrance of the thousands of military servicepersons, government employees, civilians and emergency responders who lost their lives or were wounded by terrorist attacks on that date.

(b) The Department of Education shall identify a model curriculum for instruction in the events and significance of September 11, 2001, no later than twelve (12) months after the effective date of this section. The model curriculum identified by the Department of Education shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following topics where appropriate:

(1) The historical context of terrorism.

(2) The terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and United Airlines Flight 93 which crashed in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.

(3) American recovery and response to the attacks.

(4) Global challenges and consequences in a post-September-11 world.

(c) The Department of Education shall make available on the department's publicly accessible Internet website curriculum materials and other available resources regarding the events and significance of September 11, 2001, for voluntary use by school entities.

(d) Nothing in subsections (b) and (c) shall be construed to require a school entity or nonpublic school to implement, adopt or use the curriculum, materials and other resources made available by the department under this section.

(e) For purposes of this section, the term "school entity" shall mean a school district, charter school, regional charter school, cyber charter school, intermediate unit or area career and technical school.

Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.

APPROVED--The 17th day of June, A.D. 2024.

JOSH SHAPIRO