Bill > HB827

This bill establishes a Cross-Age Tutoring Program for Pennsylvania public schools, where students in grades eleven and twelve can volunteer as tutors for younger students under a certified teacher or paraprofessional's supervision. The Department of Education must create comprehensive guidelines for the program, including specifying tutor and tutee eligibility, providing academic credits for tutors, and potentially targeting students who are not meeting academic benchmarks to serve as tutors. The program aims to supplement, not replace, existing educational services and will be available to all public school entities in the Commonwealth. Key provisions include developing structured tutoring sessions, providing training for tutors, and ensuring coordination with supervising educators. The bill explicitly clarifies that the program cannot diminish existing school employee services and does not limit schools' abilities to develop alternative tutoring programs. The legislation also includes specific definitions for terms like "cross-age tutoring," "paraprofessional," and "public school entity" to provide clear guidance on program implementation. The Cross-Age Tutoring Program is designed to enhance academic performance by creating a peer-learning environment where slightly older students can help younger students improve their academic skills.

Education

https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/bill_history.cfm?syear=2025&sind=0&body=H&type=B&bn=827