PRINTER'S NO. 2262
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
1826
Session of
2023
INTRODUCED BY RABB, CEPEDA-FREYTIZ, HILL-EVANS, MAYES, MADDEN,
SANCHEZ, DALEY, KRAJEWSKI AND CERRATO, NOVEMBER 8, 2023
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, NOVEMBER 8, 2023
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,
further providing for subjects of instruction and flag code
and providing for voting rights instruction; and, in high
schools, further providing for assessment of civic knowledge
and providing for voter registration efforts.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 1511 of the act of March 10, 1949
(P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, is
amended to read:
Section 1511. Subjects of Instruction; Flag Code.--In every
elementary public and private school, established and maintained
in this Commonwealth, the following subjects shall be taught, in
the English language and from English texts: English, including
spelling, reading and writing, arithmetic, geography, the
history of the United States and of Pennsylvania, civics,
including loyalty to the State and National Government, voting
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rights, safety education, and the humane treatment of birds and
animals, health, including physical education, and physiology,
music and art. Other subjects shall be taught in the public
elementary schools and also in the public high schools as may be
prescribed by the standards of the State Board of Education. All
such subjects, except foreign languages, shall be taught in the
English language and from English texts: Provided, however,
That, at the discretion of the [Superintendent of Public
Instruction] Secretary of Education, the teaching of subjects in
a language other than English may be permitted as part of a
sequence in foreign language study or as part of a bilingual
education program if the teaching personnel are properly
certified in the subject fields. Each school district shall
provide and distribute to each pupil, enrolled in the eighth
grade of the public schools, one illustrated copy of the
National Flag Code, and shall, from time to time, make available
such copies as are necessary for replacements from year to year.
It shall be the duty of each teacher in the public schools to
make such use of the code as may, from time to time, seem
proper.
Section 2. The act is amended by adding a section to read:
Section 1555. Voting Rights Instruction.--(a) The following
apply to model curriculum:
(1) No later than twelve (12) months after the effective
date of this paragraph, the Department of Education shall
establish model curriculum for voting rights instruction.
(2) The model curriculum for voting rights instruction under
paragraph (1) shall include the following:
(i) The history of voter suppression in the United States,
including movements, laws and constitutional amendments that
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have led to the expansion of voting rights.
(ii) Current laws and legislation that aim to impact an
individual's ability to vote freely and safely.
(iii) Information on how to register to vote, including
guided assistance and opportunities for in-class registration
for students who are at least 18 years of age.
(iv) All of the available methods of voting in this
Commonwealth.
(v) Information on critically researching candidates in
elections and ballot measures through nonpartisan sources.
(b) Beginning with the school year that begins at least
three (3) months after the Department of Education establishes
model curriculum for voting rights instruction under subsection
(a) and for each school year thereafter, each school entity
shall incorporate voting rights instruction into the school
entity's civics instruction.
Section 3. Section 1605.1(b) of the act is amended by adding
a paragraph and the section is amended by adding a subsection to
read:
Section 1605.1. Assessment of Civic Knowledge.--* * *
(a.1) Beginning with the school year that begins at least
eighteen (18) months after the effective date of this subsection
and for each school year thereafter, each school entity shall:
(1) R equire students in grade twelve to demonstrate civics
competency through a civics capstone research project.
(2) Establish guidelines for the civics capstone research
project required under paragraph (1), which shall include:
(i) Preliminary research into issues that impact students,
their families and their communities.
(ii) Student choice as to which issue to research.
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(iii) Research that explores the root causes of problems.
(iv) Research into current public policy.
(v) Research into multiple perspectives and political
viewpoints.
(vi) Research into existing solutions proposed by
governmental agencies and nongovernmental organizations.
(vii) Development of evidence-based arguments.
(viii) Development of an action plan to address the issue
and public policy.
(ix) Authentic writing and speaking to address the issue and
argue a position using evidence.
(x) Incorporation of the arts to express points of view on
an issue.
(3) Award a State seal of civic knowledge to a student who
successfully completes the civic competency capstone research
project under paragraph (1), which shall affix to the student's
diploma.
(b) The department shall:
* * *
( 5) Develop and issue to school entities a State seal of
civic knowledge, which school entities are required to award to
students in accordance with subsection (a.1)(3).
* * *
Section 4. The act is amended by adding a section to read:
Section 1605.2. Voter Registration Efforts.--(a) A school
entity may designate a faculty member to be responsible for
voter registration efforts at a senior high school during each
school year. The designated faculty member shall possess the
qualifications listed under 25 Pa.C.S. § 1301 (relating to
qualifications to register).
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(b) A school entity designating a faculty member under
subsection (a) shall:
(1) Ensure that voter registration efforts are nonpartisan
in nature.
(2) Provide the designated faculty member with instructional
materials concerning voter registration.
( c) A faculty member designated under subsection (a) shall
nominate a student to aid in voter registration efforts during
each school year. The student shall be at least sixteen years of
age and enrolled in a school entity on a full-time basis.
(d) Definitions.--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:
"School entity" shall mean a school district, joint school
district, private school, intermediate unit, area career and
technical school, charter school, cyber charter school or
regional charter school.
"Voter registration efforts" shall mean the distribution of
instructional materials concerning voter registration,
instructions for the submission of completed official voter
registration applications and official voter registration
applications to students or employees of a school entity
possessing the qualifications listed under 25 Pa.C.S. § 1301.
The term does not include the collection of completed voter
registration applications by a designated faculty member or
student nominee.
Section 5. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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