PAESSP Political Notes

May 23, 2003

   The legislature is in recess until June 2, 2003 at which time they are expected to take up the Governor’s educational accountability proposals. 

   The State Board of Education met this week in Harrisburg.  The Pennsylvania Department of Education has proposed some regulations on identifying Persistently Dangerous Schools as part of the requirements of the No Child Left Behind Act. The purpose is to ensure all children who attend a persistently dangerous school, or who are victims of a criminal offense, will have the opportunity to transfer to a school that is identified as a safe school. The department regulations, which were adopted by the state board, require the student to be able to transfer to a safe public school within the LEA, including a charter school.  In order to be entitled to transfer under these standards, the offense must be reported to the police by either the parents, the student or school officials. 

   Governor Rendell signed his first law, Act 1, which deals with reducing the number of chaperones at school events held in establishments where alcohol is served from 1 to 5 minors to 1 adult for 50 minors. In addition, the Pennsylvania Liquor Board did issue a statement that if school proms were held in an establishment where food sales were equal to more than 50% of all sales, then the chaperone requirement is not necessary.

   Before the House adjourned, they passed House Bill 418, which deals with student expulsion and the requirements that parents may be required to pay for the education of an expelled student.

   PAESSP continues to monitor House Bill 1325 dealing with the loss of due process and diminishing Act 93 rights. It is hopeful the administration will be willing to sit down with the association to look for a mutually acceptable proposal for the legislature. (For further information on HB 1325, go to top of the PAESSP home page and click on Principal Tenure Threatened.)