Bill > HB1197

This bill updates the Private Academic Schools Act to include online schools within the regulatory framework of private academic schools, making several key changes. The bill expands the definition of "private academic school" to explicitly include online schools, clarifies that administrative support for the State Board of Private Academic Schools will be provided by the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education instead of the entire Department of Education, and modifies licensing and inspection requirements to account for online schools' unique operational structure. Specifically, the bill requires online schools to have at least one office in Pennsylvania, allows for inspection of administrative office spaces and facilities from which instruction is transmitted, and mandates that the board develop specific rules and regulations for online schools within 18 months that address their distinctive method of instruction and service delivery. The bill also requires online schools to provide the same type of application information as traditional schools, such as details about instructional programs, staff qualifications, and financial resources, and prevents the board from issuing licenses to online schools until comprehensive regulations are in place. These changes aim to ensure that online schools are held to similar standards of accountability and quality as traditional private academic schools while recognizing their technological approach to education.

Education

https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/bill_history.cfm?syear=2025&sind=0&body=H&type=B&bn=1197