Section 15-1527 - Child Exploitation Awareness Education(a) Beginning with the 2015-2016 school year, each school entity may:(1) Develop an age-appropriate child exploitation awareness education program and incorporate such program into the school entity's existing curriculum for students in kindergarten through grade eight. In developing the program, the school entity may use the model curriculum developed by the department under subsection (b)(2).(2) Include training in child exploitation awareness in the professional development plan submitted by the school entity to the secretary for approval pursuant to section 1205.1; provided that a school entity shall provide four (4) hours of such training every five (5) years for professional educators assigned to teach courses into which child exploitation awareness education has been incorporated under paragraph (1). Training under this paragraph may be used to satisfy a professional educator's continuing professional education requirement under section 1205.2. A school entity may use the materials made available by the department under subsection (b) (1) to conduct such training.(b) The department, in consultation with at least one organization addressing child exploitation, shall: (1) Develop a model child exploitation awareness curriculum, which may include materials already publicly available, and make such curriculum available to all school entities and, upon request, to nonpublic schools.(2) Compile, develop and post on its publicly accessible Internet website recommended guidelines and educational materials for the training provided for under subsection (a)(2), which may include materials already publicly available.(c) As used in this section, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings given to them in this subsection unless the context clearly indicates otherwise: "Department." The Department of Education of the Commonwealth.
"Nonpublic school." A nonprofit school, other than a school entity, wherein a resident of this Commonwealth may legally fulfill the compulsory school attendance requirements of this act and which meets the requirements of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Public Law 88-352, 78 Stat. 241).
"Professional educator." As defined in section 1205.2(o).
"School entity." A school district, joint school district, charter school, regional charter school, cyber charter school, intermediate unit or area career and technical school.
"Secretary." The Secretary of Education of the Commonwealth.
Amended by P.L. TBD 2019 No. 76, § 26, eff. 12/30/2019.Added by P.L. 779 2014 No. 71, § 1, eff. 8/25/2014.