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 grading, classification and promotion of pupils.

HB 1535 amends Pennsylvania's school promotion rules for students in grades 3-8, directly affecting those who score significantly below state proficiency on reading and math tests. It requires schools to retain students more than three years below reading proficiency (grade 3-8) or four years below math proficiency (grade 3-8) unless they have a parent-approved improvement plan (e.g., summer school, tutoring) or have already been retained twice. The law establishes specific performance levels tied to state test results, mandates individual improvement plans for struggling students, and creates appeal committees for parents. Exceptions apply for students with certain disabilities, and schools must use alternative assessments if test data is unavailable.