HB 1373 — An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in high schools, further providing for assessment of civic knowledge.

PRINTER'S NO.   1569

                     THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



                         HOUSE BILL
                         No. 1373
                                               Session of
                                                 2025

     INTRODUCED BY SCHMITT, PICKETT, JAMES, M. MACKENZIE, BANTA,
        FREEMAN, MERSKI, STAATS AND COOPER, MAY 1, 2025

     REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, MAY 2, 2025


                                    AN ACT
 1   Amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), entitled "An
 2      act relating to the public school system, including certain
 3      provisions applicable as well to private and parochial
 4      schools; amending, revising, consolidating and changing the
 5      laws relating thereto," in high schools, further providing
 6      for assessment of civic knowledge.
 7      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
 8   hereby enacts as follows:
 9      Section 1.    Section 1605.1(a), (b)(2) and (4) and (c) of the
10   act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public
11   School Code of 1949, are amended to read:
12      Section 1605.1.    Assessment of Civic Knowledge.--(a)
13   Beginning with the [2020-2021] 2026-2027 school year, each
14   school entity:
15      (1)   Shall administer at least once to students during grades
16   seven through twelve [a locally developed assessment of United
17   States history, government and civics that includes the nature,
18   purpose, principles and structure of United States
19   constitutional democracy, the principles, operations and
20   documents of United States government and the rights and
 1   responsibilities of citizenship. Each school entity shall
 2   determine the form of the assessment and the manner in which the
 3   assessment shall be administered and may administer the
 4   assessment at the conclusion of the course of study required
 5   under section 1605(a) or at the conclusion of another related
 6   course or instructional unit. A school entity may use] the
 7   United States Citizenship and Immigration Services Test [to
 8   satisfy the requirements of this paragraph]. A student must
 9   receive a score of at least sixty percent (60%) as a condition
10   of high school graduation. A student may take the United States
11   Citizenship and Immigration Services Test as many times as
12   necessary to achieve a score of at least sixty percent (60%).
13      (2)    Shall issue a certificate of recognition, developed by
14   the department, to students who achieve a perfect score on the
15   [assessment administered] United States Citizenship and
16   Immigration Services Test under paragraph (1).
17      (b)    The department shall:
18      * * *
19      (2)    Conduct an electronic survey of each school entity at
20   the conclusion of the [2020-2021] 2026-2027 school year and at
21   the conclusion of every second school year thereafter requesting
22   information concerning compliance with the requirements of this
23   section. Each school entity shall respond to the survey no later
24   than November 30 following the school year for which the survey
25   is conducted. The survey shall only request the following
26   information for the immediately preceding school year:
27      [(i)    The type of the assessment administered as required
28   under subsection (a)(1).]
29      (ii)    The total number of students who took the [assessment]
30   United States Citizenship and Immigration Services Test.

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 1      (iii)   The total number of students who attained a passing
 2   grade on the [assessment] United States Citizenship and
 3   Immigration Services Test.
 4      (iv)    The grade level or levels in which the [assessment]
 5   United States Citizenship and Immigration Services Test was
 6   administered.
 7      (v)    The course or courses in which the [assessment] United
 8   States Citizenship and Immigration Services Test was
 9   administered.
10      * * *
11      (4)    Develop a certificate of recognition for a student who
12   achieves a perfect score on the [assessment] United States
13   Citizenship and Immigration Services Test under subsection (a)
14   (1) and make the certificate available on the department's
15   publicly accessible Internet website for use by a school entity.
16      (c)    A student with an individualized education program shall
17   not be required to take the [assessment] United States
18   Citizenship and Immigration Services Test administered under
19   subsection (a)(1) if the provisions of the student's
20   individualized education program indicate otherwise.
21      * * *
22      Section 2.   This act shall take effect immediately.




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