House Approves Topper Bill to Increase Learning Flexibility
HARRISBURG – In response to educators and school districts asking for more flexibility in providing educational opportunities for all Pennsylvania students, today the House unanimously approved legislation by Rep. Jesse Topper (R-Bedford/Fulton) to change the instructional time requirement to 180 days or 990 secondary and 900 elementary hours.
“Though it may seem like a minor adjustment in accounting for instructional time, this change will give teachers and administrators the opportunity to better meet the needs of students,” Topper said. “As I have toured school districts across this Commonwealth, I’ve heard the request for increased individualized education, student support and more focused workforce development. This bill will help in all those areas.”
Current law dictates schools provide 180 days of instruction per school year. However, a school board is permitted to request a school week be comprised of 27.5 hours as the equivalent for five school days. Additionally, the secretary of Education can approve, upon request, a school term containing a minimum of 990 secondary or 900 elementary hours of instruction as the equivalent of 180 school days.
House Bill 1507 would remove the approval process and automatically set the standard of 180 days or 990 secondary and 900 elementary hours. Doing so gives much needed flexibility in the way in which school districts, intermediate units and career and technical centers schedule instructional time.
House Bill 1507 now goes to the Senate for consideration.
Representative Jesse Topper
78th District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Greg Gross
717.260.6374
ggross@pahousegop.com
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