Section 1723-F.3 - Department of Education.The following apply to appropriations to the Department of Education:
(2) From an appropriation for adult and family literacy programs, summer reading programs and the adult high school diplomas program. The following apply:(i) No less than the amount allocated in the 2014-2015 fiscal year shall be allocated for an after-school learning program servicing low-income students located in a county of the sixth class with a population, based on the most recent Federal decennial census, of at least 64,730, but not more than 65,558; and(ii) No less than the amount allocated in the 2016-2017 fiscal year shall be used for an after-school learning program servicing low-income students located in a county of the third class with a population, based on the most recent Federal decennial census, of at least 320,000, but not more than 330,000.(iii) From money appropriated for adult and family literacy, at least $1,050,000 shall be used to develop and administer a program to subsidize the cost of high school equivalency testing that leads to a Commonwealth secondary school diploma credential for individuals who meet requirements established by the department.(3) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the appropriation for pupil transportation may not be redirected for any purpose.(4) For money appropriated for Pennsylvania Chartered Schools for Deaf and Blind Children, the following apply: (i) Upon distribution of the final tuition payment for the fiscal year, the balance of the appropriation, excluding amounts under subparagraph (ii), shall be used to pay the schools' increased share of required contributions for public school employees' retirement and shall be distributed pro rata based on each school's contributions for the prior fiscal year.(ii) $1,000,000 is included for capital-related costs and deferred maintenance to be divided equally between each school.(5) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the amount of money set aside under section 2509.8 of the Public School Code of 1949, shall be allocated to each approved private school with a day tuition rate determined to be less than $32,000 during the 2010-2011 school year. The allocation shall be no less than the amount allocated in the 2015-2016 fiscal year.(6) Money appropriated for regional community college services shall be distributed to each entity that received funding in fiscal year 2022-2023 in an amount equal to the amount received in that fiscal year.(7) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, money appropriated for community education councils shall be distributed in a manner that each community education council which received funding in fiscal year 2022-2023 shall receive an amount equal to the amount received in that fiscal year.(7.1) From money appropriated for Parent Pathways, the Department of Education shall expand the Parent Pathways Learning Network Pilot Program to assist parenting students in pursuing postsecondary pathways to postsecondary degree or certificate completion. The Department of Education shall provide financial and technical assistance to postsecondary institutions to remove barriers to postsecondary degree or certificate completion and increase access to family-sustaining wages and in-demand occupations.(8) From funds appropriated for career and technical education, $2,000,000 shall be used to establish a State Level Industry in the School Program to bring trade and industry professionals into the classroom. Notwithstanding the provisions specified in section 2502.8(f) of the Public School Code of 1949, payments on account of pupils enrolled In career and technical curriculums may be proportionately reduced by up to $2,000,000.(22) From money appropriated to the Department of Education, the Department of Education shall pay one-third of the costs for the Commission on Education and Economic Competitiveness to implement a contract for a nonprofit entity that has experience in the creation of long-term education planning efforts as required under section 123.1(g) of the Public School Code of 1949. The procurement of a nonprofit entity under section 123.1(g) of the Public School Code of 1949 shall not be subject to the requirements of 62 Pa.C.S. (relating to procurement). Notwithstanding section 123.1(g) of the Public School Code of 1949, the Commission on Education and Economic Competitiveness, by majority vote, shall choose the nonprofit entity under section 123.1(g) of the Public School Code of 1949.(24) Money appropriated for job training and education programs shall be used for grants for job training, dual enrollment and educational programs.(25) Money appropriated for mobile science and mathematics education programs shall be used for grants to support mobile science and mathematics education programs. Added by P.L. TBD 2023 No. 34,§ 32, eff. 12/13/2023.