An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in terms and courses of study, further providing for subjects of instruction and flag code.

PRINTER'S NO. 2
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 17
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY WATRO, M. MACKENZIE, COOPER, CUTLER, HAMM,
NEILSON, RAPP, KAUFFMAN, FREEMAN, TWARDZIK, JAMES AND ROWE,
JANUARY 8, 2025
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, JANUARY 8, 2025
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 terms and courses of study,
further providing for subjects of instruction and flag code.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 1511 of the act of March 10, 1949
(P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, is
amended to read:
Section 1511. Subjects of Instruction; Flag Code.--In every
elementary public and private school, established and maintained
in this Commonwealth, the following subjects shall be taught, in
the English language and from English texts: English, including
spelling, reading [and], writing, including print, joined
italics and cursive handwriting, arithmetic, geography, the
history of the United States and of Pennsylvania, civics,
including loyalty to the State and National Government, safety
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education, and the humane treatment of birds and animals,
health, including physical education, and physiology, music and
art. Other subjects shall be taught in the public elementary
schools and also in the public high schools as may be prescribed
by the standards of the State Board of Education. All such
subjects, except foreign languages, shall be taught in the
English language and from English texts: Provided, however,
That, at the discretion of the [Superintendent of Public
Instruction] Secretary of Education, the teaching of subjects in
a language other than English may be permitted as part of a
sequence in foreign language study or as part of a bilingual
education program if the teaching personnel are properly
certified in the subject fields. Each school district shall
provide and distribute to each pupil, enrolled in the eighth
grade of the public schools, one illustrated copy of the
National Flag Code, and shall, from time to time, make available
such copies as are necessary for replacements from year to year.
It shall be the duty of each teacher in the public schools to
make such use of the code as may, from time to time, seem
proper.
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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