Section 16-1615 - Virtual high school study commission(a) The Virtual High School Study Commission is established within the Department of Education to examine the feasibility and costs associated with creating a State-operated, Internet-based high school, to be known as the Pennsylvania Virtual High School, which would provide secondary students throughout this Commonwealth with access to a wide range of learning services to include, at a minimum: (1) Expanded curricular offerings such as higher level mathematics and science courses, foreign language courses and advanced placement courses.(2) Increased options for concurrent enrollment in higher education.(3) Scholastic Aptitude Testing preparation programs.(4) Summer enrichment and tutoring courses.(5) Increased instructional options for at-risk students, home-bound and alternative education students.(6) Expanded offerings for gifted and talented students.(7) Establishment of linkages between students and prospective employers, including those offering high school internships and apprenticeships.(8) Establishment of programs or services to offer students at risk of dropping out or who have dropped out an opportunity to obtain a high school diploma.(b) The Virtual High School Study Commission shall consist of the following members:(1) The majority chairman and the minority chairman of the Education Committee of the Senate and the majority chairman and the minority chairman of the Education Committee of the House of Representatives.(2) Two members of the Senate, one each to be chosen by the President pro tempore and Minority Leader of the Senate.(3) Two members of the House of Representatives, one each to be chosen by the Majority Leader and Minority Leader of the House of Representatives.(4) The Secretary of Education or a designee.(5) The chairman of the State Board of Education or a designee who is a member of the State Board of Education.(6) The Chancellor of the State System of Higher Education or a designee.(7) The presidents of each of the Commonwealth's four State-related universities or their designees.(8) The president of the Pennsylvania Commission for Community Colleges or a designee.(9) The president of the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of Pennsylvania or a designee.(10) The president of the Pennsylvania Association of School Administrators or a designee.(11) The president of the Pennsylvania Association of Elementary and Secondary School Principals or a designee.(12) The president of the Pennsylvania Association of Intermediate Units or a designee.(13) The president of the Pennsylvania Association of Rural and Small Schools or a designee.(14) The president of the Pennsylvania League of Urban Schools or a designee.(15) The president of the Pennsylvania Federation of Teachers or a designee.(16) The president of the Pennsylvania State Education Association or a designee.(17) The president of the Pennsylvania School Boards Association or a designee.(18) The president of the Pennsylvania Parent Teacher Association or a designee.(19) The president of the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry or a designee.(20) Two representatives of Pennsylvania's broadband cable industry, one each to be selected by the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.(21) Two chief executive officers of cyber charter schools approved pursuant to subdivision (c) of Article XVII-A, selected by the Pennsylvania Coalition of Charter Schools from among cyber charter schools approved pursuant to subdivision (c) of Article XVII-A. Members of the commission shall be appointed within forty-five (45) days of the effective date of this section.
(c) Any vacancy on the Virtual High School Study Commission shall be filled by the original appointing officer or agency.(d) The Virtual High School Study Commission shall select a chairman and vice chairman from among its membership at an organizational meeting. The organizational meeting shall take place no later than ninety (90) days following the effective date of this section.(e) The Virtual High School Study Commission shall hold meetings at the call of the chairman. The commission may also hold public hearings on the matters to be considered by the commission at locations throughout this Commonwealth. All meetings and public hearings of the commission shall be deemed public meetings for the purpose of 65 Pa.C.S. Ch. 7 (relating to open meetings).(f) Sixteen (16) members of the Virtual High School Study Commission shall constitute a quorum at any meeting. Each member of the commission may designate another person to represent that member at meetings of the commission.(g) Virtual High School Study Commission members shall receive no compensation for their services but shall be reimbursed for all necessary travel and other reasonable expenses incurred in connection with the performance of their duties as members.(h)(1) The Virtual High School Study Commission may employ technical and clerical staff as it deems necessary to carry out its responsibilities under this section.(2) The Department of Education shall provide administrative support, office space and any other assistance required by the commission to carry out its duties under this act.(3) Whenever possible, the Commission shall utilize the services and expertise of existing personnel and staff of State government, and, to this end the Governor, the President pro tempore of the Senate and Minority Leader of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives shall make such personnel and staff available to the commission to the fullest extent commensurate with the performance of their other duties.(i) The Virtual High School Study Commission shall have the following powers and duties: (1) Meeting with all segments of the basic and higher education communities, representatives of the State's business and labor communities and Internet service providers operating within this Commonwealth to discuss their potential involvement in the operation of a State virtual high school program.(2) Meeting with current operators of Internet-based educational programs operating within this Commonwealth, including those operated by school districts, intermediate units and blended school programs.(3) Reviewing State-operated virtual high school programs already in operation throughout the United States.(4) Evaluating and making recommendations on the following:(i) An agency or institution to be responsible for administration of the school and oversight of day-to-day operations.(ii) Courses to be offered, including how they will be determined and assessed.(iii) Faculty, including salaries, certification, training, professional development and evaluation.(iv) Policies for awarding of credits.(v) Assuring maximum accessibility to high school students in all geographic locations.(vi) Student enrollment, verification of attendance and performance assessment.(vii) Program accountability.(viii) Methods for funding, including cost estimates.(ix) Internet filtering, blocking and other security issues.(x) Intellectual property issues such as patents, copyrights and trademarks.(xi) Adaptation and accessibility for students with disabilities.(xii) Such other issues as it deems appropriate.(j) The Virtual High School Study Commission shall issue a report of its findings and recommendations to the Governor, the President pro tempore of the Senate and Minority Leader of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, the majority chairman and minority chairman of the Education Committee of the Senate and the majority chairman and minority chairman of the Education Committee of the House of Representatives no later than December 31, 2009.1949, March 10, P.L. 30, art. XVI, § 1615, added 2008, July 9, P.L. 846, No. 61, § 9, retroactive effective 7/1/2008.