Bill Text: PA SB766 | 2009-2010 | Regular Session | Introduced

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: Establishing the Science Technology Partnership Program; and providing for State grants.

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Republican 17-10)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2010-06-14 - Re-referred to APPROPRIATIONS [SB766 Detail]

Download: Pennsylvania-2009-SB766-Introduced.html

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PRINTER'S NO. 862
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No. 766 Session of2009
INTRODUCED BY ROBBINS, TARTAGLIONE, SCARNATI, PICCOLA, ALLOWAY, BAKER, BOSCOLA, BROWNE, BRUBAKER, EARLL, EICHELBERGER, ERICKSON, FARNESE, FERLO, FONTANA, GORDNER, GREENLEAF, LOGAN, O'PAKE, ORIE, RAFFERTY, STOUT, TOMLINSON, M. WHITE, WILLIAMS, YAW AND KITCHEN, APRIL 3, 2009
REFERRED TO EDUCATION, APRIL 3, 2009
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," establishing the Science Technology
Partnership Program; and providing for State grants.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. The act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known
as the Public School Code of 1949, is amended by adding an
article to read:
ARTICLE XV-F
SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY PARTNERSHIPS
Section 1501-F. Scope.
This article relates to science technology partnerships.
Section 1502-F. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this article
shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Department." The Department of Education of the
Commonwealth.
"Higher education institution." Any public or private two-
year or four-year or higher postsecondary institution in this
Commonwealth that has been accredited at the college level by an
accrediting agency recognized by the United States Secretary of
Education.
"Nonpublic school." A school, other than a public school
within this Commonwealth, wherein a resident of this
Commonwealth may legally fulfill the compulsory school
attendance requirements of this act and which meets the
requirements of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Public
Law 88-352, 78 Stat. 241).
"Program." The Science Technology Partnership Program
established in section 1503-F.
"Public school." Any school owned or operated by a public
school district established under this act, including any school
established pursuant to Article XVII-A.
"School." A public or nonpublic school.
"Science technology partnership" or "partnership." A science
technology partnership established under section 1504-F.
"Scientific or technical equipment." Technical or electronic
equipment used in teaching science courses, including laboratory
equipment. The equipment may include equipment that is not
routinely used in the teaching of science but that is commonly
used in the workplace and the fields of health, environment,
scientific research, biology, chemistry, geology or other earth
sciences, physics or any other scientific field.
"Secretary." The Secretary of Education of the Commonwealth.
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Section 1503-F. Science Technology Partnership Program.
(a) Establishment.--The Science Technology Partnership
Program is hereby established. The purpose of the program shall
be to improve science education in schools and school districts
that are members of science technology partnerships by:
(1) Making scientific or technical equipment available
to students.
(2) Augmenting the science curriculum.
(3) Providing additional professional development
opportunities to educators in the sciences.
(b) Administration.--The department shall administer a grant
program that awards grants to qualified higher education
institutions that are members of the science technology
partnerships.
(c) Criteria for funding.--To implement the program, the
department shall request proposals from higher education
institutions that are members of science technology
partnerships. To receive a grant under subsection (d), an
institution must meet all of the following criteria:
(1) Have established a partnership consistent with the
requirements of section 1504-F and provided a copy of the
partnership agreement to the department.
(2) Demonstrate how the partnership will make science
technology equipment available to students enrolled in
schools that are partnership members.
(3) Demonstrate how the partnership will augment the
science curriculum of schools that are partnership members.
(4) Demonstrate how the partnership will provide
additional professional development opportunities to
educators employed by schools or school districts that are
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partnership members.
(5) Have adopted a proposed budget describing the
scientific and technical equipment that will be purchased or
leased with grant funds.
(d) Grant awards.--The department shall award grants to
higher education institutions that meet the criteria for funding
under subsection (c). Grants shall be used for the purchase or
lease of scientific or technical equipment and for the
development of programs of instruction for members of a
partnership.
Section 1504-F. Science technology partnerships.
(a) Establishment.--A higher education institution may form
a partnership with schools or school districts and may
subcontract with a nonprofit organization in order to implement
the partnership agreement under subsection (b). A partnership
must include a minimum of three public schools or school
districts.
(b) Partnership agreement.--The higher education institution
and the schools or school districts shall enter into a written
agreement defining the responsibilities of the partnership
members. The agreement shall include all of the following:
(1) The responsibilities of the higher education
institution in providing services to each partnership member.
(2) The responsibilities of the schools or school
districts in coordinating with the higher education
institution.
(3) A description of the scientific or technical
equipment that will be provided to each partnership member.
(4) A description of the program of instruction that
will be provided to each partnership member by the higher
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education institution.
(5) The courses of science instruction and grade levels
that will be augmented by scientific or technical equipment
through the partnership and how scientific or technical
equipment will be used to augment such courses of
instruction.
(6) The manner in which access to scientific or
technical equipment will be provided to students and
teachers.
(7) The professional development activities that will be
provided to science teachers employed by partnership members.
(c) Forward to department.--To be eligible to participate in
the program, a partnership must forward a certified copy of its
partnership agreement to the department.
Section 1505-F. Powers and duties of department.
The department shall promulgate rules, regulations and
procedures necessary to implement the program.
Section 1506-F. Annual report.
The secretary shall annually submit a report on the program
to the Governor, the chairman and minority chairman of the
Education Committee of the Senate and the chairman and minority
chairman of the Education Committee of the House of
Representatives. The report shall include all of the following
information:
(1) A description of the types of the partnerships
created.
(2) The number of higher education institutions, schools
and school districts participating in the program as members
of the partnerships.
(3) The number of students participating in the program.
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(4) The dollar amount of grants awarded to each higher
education institution and a summary of the institution's
expenditures on services related to the partnership.
(5) An assessment of the impact of the program on the
scientific knowledge of students participating in the
program.
Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
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