Education (Testing & Assessment)

This bill amends Pennsylvania's Public School Code to update grading policies in public schools. It requires school districts to establish grading systems that reflect a student's actual mastery of assignments, prohibits teachers from assigning minimum grades without considering work quality, and allows students to retake failing assignments for a revised grade. These changes apply to all public school students and teachers in Pennsylvania. The bill takes effect 60 days after enactment.

HB 776 requires Pennsylvania high school students to score at least 60% on a civic knowledge assessment to graduate or earn a general equivalency diploma, starting in the 2028-2029 school year. The bill amends the Public School Code to add this graduation requirement, which applies to all students except those with an individualized education program (IEP) if their IEP specifies an exemption. The assessment measures knowledge of civic topics like government structure and citizenship. This policy directly affects all Pennsylvania public high school students seeking graduation or a general equivalency diploma.

SB 1066 amends Pennsylvania's Public School Code of 1949 to require public schools to implement standardized student fitness assessments. The bill directly affects K-12 students in Pennsylvania public schools by mandating these assessments as part of the curriculum. Key provisions establish specific fitness assessment standards and procedures for schools to follow. This change updates the existing code to include physical fitness requirements without altering other academic or administrative structures.