Pennsylvania Act 2018-119 — PUBLIC SCHOOL CODE OF 1949 - MILITARY PARENT STUDENT SUPPORT

Act text

Session of 2018

No. 2018-119

HB 2052

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 professional employees, providing for military parent student support.

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 1183. Military Parent Student Support.--(a) Beginning with the 2018-2019 school year and each school year thereafter, each public school entity shall provide appropriate support services, as specified in subsection (b), to students whose parent or guardian is a member of the armed forces being called to and while serving on active duty.

(b) If a parent or guardian of a student is called or ordered to active duty by the Federal Government under the provisions of 10 U.S.C. (relating to armed forces) or 32 U.S.C. (relating to National Guard), the parent or guardian may notify the public school entity of the activation to active duty and request additional supports for the student under this section. Upon receiving notification from the parent or guardian of activation, the public school entity shall provide the student and parent or guardian with the following:

(1) Access to the following:

(i) a certified school counselor;

(ii) a certified school psychologist;

(iii) school social workers; or

(iv) certified home and school visitors.

(2) Information regarding the following:

(i) Existing Federal and State military support services.

(ii) Any other service, agency or resource necessary to support or provide assistance to the student, parent or guardian.

(c) The Department of Education shall coordinate with the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs to carry out this section, including posting information about the requirements of this section to their publicly accessible Internet websites and providing informational materials for use by public school entities to inform parents and guardians of the supports available under subsection (b)(2).

(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:

"Public school entity." Any public school, including a school district, charter school, regional charter school, cyber charter school, intermediate unit or area vocational-technical school operating within this Commonwealth.

Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.

APPROVED--The 24th day of October, A.D. 2018.

TOM WOLF