PRINTER'S NO. 2373
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
1884
Session of
2023
INTRODUCED BY R. MACKENZIE, BANTA, D'ORSIE, GILLEN, KAUFFMAN,
M. MACKENZIE AND SCIALABBA, DECEMBER 8, 2023
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, DECEMBER 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 high schools, further providing
for courses of study; and abrogating regulations.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 1605(a) of the act of March 10, 1949
(P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, is
amended and the section is amended by adding a subsection to
read:
Section 1605. Courses of Study.--(a) In all public, private
or parochial schools, there shall be integrated in the social
studies curriculum courses of study as provided in this act. It
shall be the duty of the superintendent having supervision over
any high school to prepare, and recommend to the board of school
directors maintaining the same, suitable courses of study, which
shall be adopted by said board of school directors, with such
changes as they may deem wise, subject to the provisions of this
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act. During grades seven through twelve inclusive, there shall
be included at least four semesters or equivalent study in the
history and government of that portion of America which has
become the United States of America, and of the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania, of such nature, kind or quality, as to have for
its purpose the developing, teaching and presentation of the
principles and ideals of the American republican representative
form of government, as portrayed and experienced by the acts and
policies of the framers of the Declaration of Independence and
framers of the Constitution of the United States and the Bill of
Rights. The study of the history of the United States, including
the study of the Constitution of the United States and the study
of the history and Constitution of this Commonwealth, shall also
be such as will emphasize the good, worthwhile and best features
and points of the social, economic and cultural development, the
growth of the American family life, high standard of living of
the United States citizen, the privileges enjoyed by such
citizens, their heritage and its derivations of and in our
principles of government. Such instruction shall have for its
purpose also the instilling into every boy and girl who comes
out of our public, private and parochial schools their solemn
duty and obligation to exercise intelligently their voting
privilege and to understand the advantages of the American
republican form of government as compared with various other
forms of government. Beginning in the 2024-2025 school year, and
continuing each school year thereafter, the instruction under
this subsection shall include instruction on the following
topics, including Mao Zedong and the Cultural Revolution, Joseph
Stalin and the Soviet system, Fidel Castro and the Cuban
Revolution, Vladimir Lenin and the Russian Revolution, Pol Pot
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and the Khmer Rouge and Nicolas Maduro and the Chavismo movement
and how victims suffered under each of the aforementioned
regimes through poverty, starvation, migration, systemic lethal
violence and suppression of speech.
(a.1) No later than April 1, 2024, the State Board of
Education shall promulgate regulations consistent with
subsection (a).
* * *
Section 2. All regulations and parts of regulations are
abrogated to the extent of any inconsistency with the provisions
of this act.
Section 3. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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