Senate Bill 71 (Greenleaf) would amend the Public School Code to require school entities to adopt policies relating to bullying.  Each school entity would be required to adopt a bullying policy or amend its code of student conduct to include bullying by June 30, 2007.  The policy or code would delineate disciplinary consequences for bullying and could include prevention, intervention and education programs.  A school entity with an existing policy would not be required to establish a new policy.  The policy would be distributed with the code of student conduct, posted on the school's Internet website, and provided annually to the Office of Safe Schools.  The policy would have to be reviewed every three years.  The bill would also add bullying to the types of risk factors for which Safe Schools grants could be awarded.  Passed:  42-6.

Senate Bill 157 (Rhoades) would amend the Public School Code to provide for the implementation of academic improvement programs.  Under these provisions, each intermediate unit would be required to provide support to and coordinate an academic improvement program for any school district assigned to the intermediate unit that is eligible for academic assistance as specified in the bill.  Within 30 days of receiving the list of school districts eligible for academic assistance, an academic improvement team would have to be appointed for each eligible district.  The teams would be composed of members appointed by the intermediate unit and the school district.  Within 35 days of its appointment, the improvement team would have to present an academic improvement plan to the intermediate unit board of directors and the school district's board of directors.  The plan would have to include specific goals for improving academic performance and strategies designed to achieve these goals.  Within 45 days of the appointment of an academic improvement team, the school board would be required to vote to approve, or approve with amendments, the proposed plan at its next regularly scheduled monthly meeting.  The approved academic improvement plan would be effective as long as the school district is eligible for academic assistance.  Passed:  44-4.

Senate Bill 158 (Rhoades) would amend the Public School Code to require school districts to establish parental involvement programs.  Under the bill, each school district would have to establish a parent involvement committee to provide recommendations to the board on the district's parent involvement policy and program.  The committee would be composed of parents with students in the school district.  If a school district has already established a committee of parents to make recommendations on school policies, it could utilize that committee to meet this requirement.  Among other components, the parent involvement policy would have to identify the district's goals and objectives for the increased involvement of parents in efforts to improve the academic achievement of students.  The parent involvement program would have to identify existing school resources that parents could use to improve the academic achievement of the students and to establish means by which the school district and parents can communicate and share information.  The board of school directors would have to provide a copy of the parent involvement policy to the parents or guardians of each student enrolled in the district and make copies of the parent involvement program and policy available for inspection in the administrative office of the district.  Copies of the program and the policy would have to be provided to the Department of Education by June 30, 2007.  The Department of Education would have to establish a clearinghouse of information for school districts related to strategies that could assist in the development of parent involvement programs and policies.  Passed:  38-10.

Senate Resolution 25 (Regola) would designate the week of March 18 through 24, 2007 as "Land Surveyors Week" in Pennsylvania.  Adopted:  49-0.

Senate Resolution 53 (Baker) designates March 1 as "St. David's Day" and honors the many Pennsylvanians of Welsh heritage.  Adopted by Voice Vote.

Senate Resolution 54 (M. White) designates the week of March 11 through 17, 2007 as "Girl Scout Week" in Pennsylvania.  Adopted by Voice Vote.

Senate Resolution 55 (Brubaker) designates March 12, 2007 as "Pennsylvania Association of Conservation District Day" in Pennsylvania.  Adopted by Voice Vote.

Senate Resolution 56 (Wozniak) designates the week of March 11 through 17, 2007 as "Sleep Disorders Awareness Week" in Pennsylvania.  Adopted by Voice Vote.

Senate Resolution 57 (Mellow) designates the month of March 2007 as "Deep Vein Thrombosis Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania.  Adopted by Voice Vote.

Senate Resolution 58 (Pileggi) designates the month of March 2007 as "Brain injury Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania.  Adopted by Voice Vote.

Senate Bill 154 (Rhoades) would amend the Public School Code to require certain school entities to amend their professional education plans.  These school entities would include those in which one or more schools have been identified for warning, school improvement or corrective action under the No Child Left Behind Act.  The amended plan would have to specify continuing professional education options designed to assist in the attainment of academic performance targets.  The Pennsylvania Department of Education would be required to provide a clearinghouse of continuing professional education programs, activities, or learning experiences for use by school entities.  Passed:  49-1.

Senate Bill 155 (Rhoades) would amend the Public School Code to authorize intermediate units to create pools of educational advisors for schools identified for school improvement or corrective action.  Upon the request of the school board of an eligible school district, the intermediate unit that has established a pool would assign an advisor to the district.  The duties of the advisor could include coordination of a continuing professional education program for the district; assistance in the design of a professional education plan; mentoring professional employees; and, assistance in the development and implementation of the school improvement or corrective action plan.  To qualify as an educational advisor, an individual would have to be in active school service or an annuitant and a certificated professional employee, have at least five years experience as a teacher or school administrator in Pennsylvania and have never received an unsatisfactory rating.  Return to service by an annuitant as an advisor would be deemed a return to service during emergency (which carries a 95 full-day session limitation.)  Passed:  49-1.

Senate Bill 219 (Vance) would amend the Public School Code to allow a physician assistant or certified registered nurse practitioner to sign a health certificate for an applicant for teacher certification.  The bill would also require the Department of Education to prescribe a method for prospective school employees to submit a set of fingerprints to be transmitted to the Federal Bureau of Investigation for federal criminal history information.  Passed:  50-0.

Senate Resolution 44 (Robbins) designates March 2007 as "Youth Art Month" in Pennsylvania.  Adopted:  50-0.

State System of Higher Education Property Request No. 1 of 2007 (Resolution A)  Adopted:  50-0.

Executive Session

Nominations to Various Boards and Commissions.  (See Attached)  Confirmed:  50-0.