Pennsylvania Act 2018-37 — PUBLIC SCHOOL CODE OF 1949 - ESTABLISHMENT OF PROGRAMS

Act text

Session of 2018

No. 2018-37

SB 776

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 definitions; and, in Dyslexia and Early Literacy Intervention Pilot Program, further providing for definitions and for establishment of program.

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

Section 1. Section 102 of the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, is amended by adding a definition to read:

Section 102. Definitions.--When used in this act the following words and phrases shall have the following meanings:

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"Dyslexia." A condition that is characterized by difficulty with accurate or fluent word recognition and by poor spelling and decoding abilities, which characteristics typically result from a deficit in one or more processes related to the phonological component of language, that is often unexpected in relation to other cognitive abilities and the provision of effective classroom instruction and that may result in problems in reading comprehension and reduced reading experience that may impede the growth of vocabulary and background knowledge.

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Section 2. Sections 1702-C and 1703-C(b) and (c) of the act are amended to read:

Section 1702-C. 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:

"Department." The Department of Education of the Commonwealth.

["Dyslexia." A condition that is characterized by difficulty with accurate or fluent word recognition and by poor spelling and decoding abilities, which characteristics typically result from a deficit in one or more processes related to the phonological component of language, that is often unexpected in relation to other cognitive abilities and the provision of effective classroom instruction and that may result in problems in reading comprehension and reduced reading experience that may impede the growth of vocabulary and background knowledge. The term shall apply only for purposes of the pilot program.]

"Intensive intervention." Explicit, multisensory, synthetic phonics instruction and a structured language program delivered with fidelity by a trained interventionist. The term shall apply only for purposes of the pilot program.

"Pilot program." The Dyslexia and Early Literacy Intervention Pilot Program established under this article.

Section 1703-C. Establishment.

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(b) Program operation.--The pilot program shall operate for [three] five full school years, beginning with the school year that begins at least six months after the effective date of this article.

(c) Eligibility.--The department shall select at least [three] eight school districts to participate in the pilot program. To be eligible for the pilot program:

(1) A school district must enroll [3,000 to] no more than 15,000 students and provide full-day kindergarten.

(2) Three months after the effective date of this section, the school district must submit a proposal to the department that identifies how it will meet the guidelines of the pilot program's:

(i) evidence-based core reading program;

(ii) evidence-based method of screening all kindergarten students;

(iii) evidence-based intervention programs; and

(iv) a methodology for evaluating the effects of the program on the students' identified risk factors.

Section 3. This act shall take effect immediately.

APPROVED--The 19th day of June, A.D. 2018.

TOM WOLF