Regulations

The State Board of Education works closely with the Department of Education, state policymakers, educators, and other interested stakeholders to review, develop and adopt regulations that govern significant components of both basic and higher education in the Commonwealth. Here you will find information about regulations currently under review by the Board.

Chapter 4 (Academic Standards and Assessment)

The Board's Committee on Academic Standards/Chapter 4 (Committee) is designated by the Board to oversee issues related to academic standards and assessment that are governed by the regulations at 22 Pa. Code Chapter 4 and to recommend draft revisions to Chapter 4. In September 2022, the Committee met to determine next steps in its work to conduct required periodic reviews of the academic standards that are promulgated in Chapter 4. The Committee reached consensus to open the following three sets of standards for review: Career Education and Work, Economics, and Family and Consumer Sciences.

The Committee further requested that the Department of Education serve in partnership to support this effort by engaging educators and other content experts in an initial review of the standards. Through that consultation with external stakeholders, the Committee requested that the Department develop recommendations on whether the standards should be revised and, if so, formulate draft amendments to the standards for consideration by the Committee. A memo that reflects the Committee's request of the Department can be found here: Review of Academic Standards for Career Education and Work, Family and Consumer Sciences, and Economics (PDF)

The Committee is committed to creating additional opportunities for stakeholder input on these standards and on any recommendations developed by the Department before the Committee adopts its own recommendations to present to the State Board of Education.

Chapter 10 (Safe Schools)

Section 1302.1-A of the Public School Code directed the State Board of Education (Board) to promulgate regulations that, in part, include a model memorandum of understanding (MOU) between school entities and local police departments.  These regulations were promulgated at 22 Pa. Code Chapter 10 (Safe Schools).  The Public School Code directs the Board to review the model MOU in 22 Pa. Code Chapter 10 on a biennial basis and revise where necessary.  The Board's School and University Safety Committee (Committee) met on November 9, 2022, to open this required biennial review of the model MOU.  The Committee invited interested stakeholders to submit written comments on the model MOU and recently extended to deadline for submitted written comments through March 31, 2023.  Written comments must be submitted electronically at ra-stateboardofed@pa.gov or in hard copy to: State Board of Education, 1st Floor, 333 Market St., Harrisburg, PA 17126.

Chapter 16 (Gifted Education)

In September 2022, the Board's Committee on Special and Gifted Education (Committee) announced that it will open 22 Pa. Code Chapter 16 (Gifted Education) for review. Section 16.6(c) of the regulation establishes that the Board will review the Chapter at least every four years to ensure its consistent interpretation and application.

The Board's last review of Chapter 16 was commenced in the fall of 2018 and, at the culmination of that process, the Committee endorsed a series of recommendations to improve gifted education for students in the Commonwealth. To inform its forthcoming review of Chapter 16, the Committee invited the Department of Education to make a presentation on the status of implementing the recommendations previously endorsed by the Committee. The status update presented by the Department can be found here: 2019 Committee Recommendations for PA Gifted Education (PDF)

The Committee invited interested stakeholders to provide perspectives on gifted education at three public roundtables during the fall of 2022. Roundtables were held in Central Pennsylvania (October 20), Western Pennsylvania (October 25), and Eastern Pennsylvania (October 27) using a hybrid virtual and in-person format.  In addition to hearing from interested stakeholders at these public roundtables, the Committee also accepted comments on gifted education in writing through the end of October 2022.  The Committee will review the feedback received on gifted education over the next few months and will determine whether or not to recommend proposed amendments to Chapter 16 for consideration by the State Board of Education.