Pennsylvania Act 2017-6 — PUBLIC SCHOOL CODE OF 1949 - KEYSTONE EXAMS

Act text

Session of 2017

No. 2017-6

HB 202

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 preliminary provisions, further providing for Keystone Exams.

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania hereby enacts as follows:

Section 1. Section 121(a) of the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, amended February 3, 2016 (P.L.1, No.1), is amended and the section is amended by adding subsections to read:

Section 121. Keystone Exams.--(a) [Subject to annual appropriation, not later than the 2020-2021 school year, the] The Department of Education shall develop and implement Keystone Exams in [the following subjects:] algebra I, literature[, biology, English composition, algebra II, geometry, United States history, chemistry, civics and government and world history.] and biology. The State Board of Education shall promulgate regulations, subject to the act of June 25, 1982 (P.L.633, No.181), known as the "Regulatory Review Act," necessary to implement this section.

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(c) Notwithstanding section 2604-B(b)(2)(v), 22 Pa. Code § 4.24 (relating to high school graduation requirements) or 4.51 (relating to State assessment system) or any statute or regulation to the contrary, in any school year in which a demonstration of proficiency on a Keystone Exam is required for high school graduation, a CTE Concentrator shall be deemed proficient provided that the CTE Concentrator shall meet all of the following requirements:

(1) completes locally established grade-based requirements for academic content areas associated with each Keystone Exam on which the CTE Concentrator did not achieve proficiency. For the purposes of this paragraph, completion of grade-based requirements in any science and technology and environment and ecology course shall satisfy the requirements for the academic content area associated with the Keystone Exam in biology; and

(2) completes one of the following:

(i) attains an industry-based competency certification related to the CTE Concentrator's program of study; or

(ii) demonstrates a high likelihood of success on an approved industry-based competency assessment or readiness for continued meaningful engagement in the CTE Concentrator's program of study as demonstrated by performance on benchmark assessments, course grades and other factors consistent with the CTE Concentrator's goals and career plan.

(d) As used in this section, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings given to them in this subsection unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

"Approved industry-based competency assessment." A NOCTI exam, NIMS assessment or other industry-based competency assessment identified by the Secretary of Education and approved by the State Board of Education.

"CTE Concentrator." A student who, by the end of a reporting year, will be reported as successfully completing at least fifty percent (50%) of the minimum technical instructional hours required under 22 Pa. Code Ch. 339 (relating to vocational education).

"NIMS assessment." An assessment based on the National Institute for Metalworking Skills standards.

"NOCTI exam." A National Occupational Competency Testing Institute exam.

Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.

APPROVED--The 21st day of June, A.D. 2017.

TOM WOLF