HB 1877 — An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in terms and courses of study, providing for Pennsylvania Seal of Biliteracy.

PRIOR PRINTER'S NO.

2334 PRINTER'STHE NO.GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA HOUSE BILL Session of No.

32921877 THE2025 GENERALINTRODUCED ASSEMBLYBY OFD'ORSIE, PENNSYLVANIACEPEDA-FREYTIZ, HOUSERIVERA, BILLVENKAT, SessionKHAN, WAXMAN, CUTLER, HILL-EVANS, GUZMAN, ZIMMERMAN, ANDERSON AND GREEN, SEPTEMBER 23, 2025 REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, SEPTEMBER 25, 2025 AN ACT Amending the act of No.March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), entitled "An act relating to the public school system, including certain provisions applicable as well to private and parochial schools;

1877amending, 2025revising, INTRODUCEDconsolidating BYand D'ORSIE,changing CEPEDA-FREYTIZ,the RIVERA,providing VENKAT,for KHAN,Pennsylvania GREEN,Seal MALAGARIof ANDBiliteracy.f COOPER,study, SEPTEMBERThe 23,General 2025Assembly ANDERSON,of AS REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AS AMENDED, APRIL 28, 2026 AN ACT Amending the actCommonwealth of MarchPennsylvania 10,hereby 1949enacts (P.L.30, No.14), entitled "An act relating to the public school system, including certain provisions applicable as wellfollows: to private and parochial schools;

amending, revising, consolidating and changing the laws relating thereto," in terms and courses of study, providing for Pennsylvania Seal of Biliteracy.

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania hereby enacts as follows:

Code § 4.24 <-- (relating to high school graduation requirements), 4.51 (relating to State assessment system) or 4.51c (relating to project-based assessment) or any law to the contrary, the Department of Education, beginning BEGINNING with the 2026-2027 <-- school year, THE DEPARTMENT shall establish criteria for <-- awarding AND A TOOLKIT FOR SCHOOL ENTITIES TO AWARD A SEAL, TO <-- BE KNOWN AS the Pennsylvania Seal of Biliteracy,Biliteracy to any student <-- GRADUATING FROM HIGH SCHOOL who demonstrates proficiency in <-- English and at least one other foreign WORLD language on <-- approved diplomas.

To qualify for the Pennsylvania Seal of <--Biliteracy, Biliteracy SEAL, a student must:

<-- (1) Complete all requirements to earn a high school diploma.

(2) Meet any English proficiency criteria established by the Department of EducationEducation. DEPARTMENT.

<-- (3) Meet any foreign WORLD language proficiency criteria <-- established by the Department of EducationEducation. DEPARTMENT.

<-- (b) By August 31 of the year following the establishment of <-- criteria for awarding the Pennsylvania Seal of Biliteracy under subsection (a) and each August 31 thereafter, the State Board of Education shall issue a report on the efficacy of the seal, rate of completion among graduating students and recommendations for improvement, including proposed legislation, to the chairperson and minority chairperson of the Education Committee of the Senate and the chairperson and minority chairperson of the Education Committee of the House of Representatives.

(B) BEGINNING WITH THE 2026-2027 SCHOOL YEAR, A SCHOOL <-- ENTITY THAT AWARDS THE SEAL SHALL:

(1) FOR A STUDENT WHO IS AWARDED THE SEAL, NOTE THE SEAL ON THE STUDENT'S HIGH SCHOOL TRANSCRIPT ISSUED BY THE SCHOOL ENTITY.

(2) BY OCTOBER 31, 2027, AND EACH OCTOBER 31 THEREAFTER, REPORT THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION TO THE DEPARTMENT FOR THE PRIOR SCHOOL YEAR:

(I) THE NUMBER OF GRADUATING STUDENTS WHO WERE AWARDED THE SEAL.

(II) THE NUMBER OF ENGLISH LEARNERS WHO WERE AWARDED THE 20250HB1877PN3292 - 2 - SEAL.

(III) A LIST OF LANGUAGES FOR WHICH THE SEAL WAS AWARDED.

(IV) ANY OTHER INFORMATION REQUIRED BY THE DEPARTMENT.

(C) BY DECEMBER 1, 2027, AND EACH DECEMBER 1 THEREAFTER, THE DEPARTMENT SHALL ISSUE A REPORT ON THE EFFICACY OF THE SEAL TO THE CHAIRPERSON AND MINORITY CHAIRPERSON OF THE EDUCATION COMMITTEE OF THE SENATE AND THE CHAIRPERSON AND MINORITY CHAIRPERSON OF THE EDUCATION COMMITTEE OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

THE REPORT SHALL INCLUDE INFORMATION COLLECTED BY THE DEPARTMENT IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUBSECTION (B)(2).

(D) 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.

"SCHOOL ENTITY." A SCHOOL DISTRICT, INTERMEDIATE UNIT, AREA CAREER AND TECHNICAL SCHOOL, CHARTER SCHOOL, CYBER CHARTER SCHOOL OR REGIONAL CHARTER SCHOOL.

"SEAL." THE PENNSYLVANIA SEAL OF BILITERACY AUTHORIZED UNDER THIS SECTION.

"WORLD LANGUAGE." AS DEFINED IN 22 PA.

CODE § 4.25(D) (RELATING TO LANGUAGES).

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