Bill > HB819

This bill establishes the Access to Rigorous Courses of Study for All Students Grant Program to expand opportunities for secondary students (grades 7-12) to access advanced academic courses. The bill expands continuing professional development options for educators to include serving as "rigorous course of study coaches" and creates a grant program to help school entities train educators to teach advanced courses like Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, dual credit, and concentrated career and technical education programs. Starting in the 2025-2026 school year, school entities can receive grants for up to five consecutive years to train educators in teaching these rigorous courses, with a focus on core academic areas like mathematics, English, science, social studies, and computer science. The bill requires school entities to report annually on their rigorous course offerings, student participation, and completion rates. Additionally, the bill provides exam fee assistance, particularly for students at or below 185% of the federal poverty threshold, to encourage participation in college-level exams. The Department of Education will establish benchmarks, identify schools needing technical assistance, and issue reports every five years to track progress in expanding access to rigorous courses of study across the state.

Budget and Finance, Education

https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/bill_history.cfm?syear=2025&sind=0&body=H&type=B&bn=819