Thanks to AFT Pennsylvania Legislative Representative Hillary Linardopoulos for putting together this succinct summary of SB751, the bill Governor Wolf signed into law this past week.
S B 751:
Full legislation → www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/billinfo.cfm?syear=2019&sind=0&body=S&type=B&bn=751 (current printer #1599)
SECTION 1501.8. [Relevant to COVID19] →
Does the following:
- Waives the 180 day requirement.
- Allows the Secretary of Education to do the following:
- Order school closures related to COVID-19.
- Increase the number of flexible instruction days.
- Waive the minimum total of hours required for CTE programs.
- Waive the performance data requirement of educator evaluation.
- Waive the minimum number of days for PreKindergarten.
- Waive the 12-week student teacher requirement.
- Waive the NIMS and NOCTI.
- Maintains employees pay.
- Maintains PSERS credit.
- Provides employees required to clean schools with the appropriate protective gear.
- Requires Districts to provide parents of students w/ IEPs a written notice of the District’s plan to ensure FAPE.
- Requires a good faith effort to offer continuity of education*.
- Extends Act 48 deadlines by one year**.
- Maintains payments, allotments, reimbursements.
- Uses March 13th enrollment to calcualate Charter and cyber charter payments.
- Requires waiver application to USDE for assessments.
- Allows local governing bodies to apply for waivers to the Secretary of Education.
*Full language around good faith effort:
(5) EACH SCHOOL ENTITY SHALL MAKE A GOOD FAITH EFFORT TO PLAN TO OFFER CONTINUITY OF EDUCATION TO STUDENTS USING A LTERNATIVE MEANS DURING THE PERIOD OF CLOSURE. THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION SHALL PROVIDE GUIDANCE TO SCHOOL ENTITIES AND INTERMEDIATE UNITS MAY PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE. A SCHOOL
ENTITY SHALL SUBMIT THE PLAN TO THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION. THE SCHOOL ENTITY SHALL POST THE PLAN ON ITS PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE INTERNET WEBSITE.
**Full Language Around Continuing Education
G) BEGINNING ON THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS SUBSECTION AND NOTWITHSTANDING ANY OTHER PROVISION OF LAW TO THE CONTRARY EACH
PROFESSIONAL EDUCATOR'S CURRENT CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION COMPLIANCE PERIOD UNDER SECTION 1205.2 OR 1205.5 SHALL BE EXTENDED BY ONE YEAR.
THIS SUBSECTION SHALL APPLY ONLY TO PROFESSIONAL EDUCATORS WITH AN ACTIVE CERTIFICATION AS OF THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS SUBSECTION AND SHALL EXPIRE ONE YEAR FROM
THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS SUBSECTION.