Title 22 - Education
Chapter 4 Regulations
Updates published March, 2014
Planned Instruction
Public Schools provide instruction throughout the
curriculum so that students may develop knowledge
and skills in the following areas:
English Language Arts
Mathematics
Science & Technology
Environment & Ecology
Social Studies (civics &
government, geography,
economics and history)
Arts & Humanities
Career education and
work
Health, safety & Physical
Education
Family & Consumer
Science
*Note that the regulations do not specify specific “courses” to be
offered.
Common Core Standards
Reminder that Common Core only addresses
Mathematics and English/Language Arts.
All of the other academic standards (ie. Science
and Technology, Social Studies, Career Education
and Work, etc.) remain unchanged.
Curriculum – Primary Grades
Instruction aligned to academic standards must be provided to
all students in each of the following areas every year:
• Language Arts
• Mathematics
• Science & Technology
• Environment & Ecology
• Social Studies
• Health, Safety and Physical Education
• The Arts
Curriculum – Intermediate Grades
Instruction aligned to academic standards must be provided to
all students in each of the following areas every year.
• Language Arts
• Mathematics
• Science & Technology
• Environment & Ecology
• Social Studies
• Health, Safety and Physical Education
• The Arts
Plus – Understanding of use of library and other information
sources
By the end of elementary….
every student must receive instruction in:
• History of the United States
• History of the Commonwealth
• Geography
• Civics
These topics do not need to be separate courses.
They can be included as units of study within other
planned courses at the elementary level.
Curriculum - Middle Level
Instruction aligned to academic standards must be provided to
every student in the middle level program (note that the
regulations do not say every course must be offered every year).
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Language Arts
Mathematics
Science & Technology
Environment & Ecology
Social Studies
Health, Safety and Physical Education
The Arts
Information Skills (traditional and computer-based research)
Career Education
Technology Education
Family & Consumer Science
Curriculum – High School
Instruction aligned to academic standards must be provided to every student
in the High School program (note that the regulations do not say every course
must be offered every year).
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Language Arts
Mathematics
Science & Technology
Environment & Ecology
Social Studies
Health, Safety and Physical Education
The Arts
Applications of Microcomputers and Software
Family & Consumer Science
Curriculum – High School
The following must be available to every student
in the high school:
• Vocational-Technical Education
• Business Education (developing business and information
technology skills.)
• World Languages (minimum of two languages with at least
one being offered in a 4 year sequence – not necessarily all in
the high school)
• Technology Education (technological problem solving and
impacts of technology on society)
Graduation Requirements
“High school graduation requirements and
revisions to them shall be approved by a school
entity’s governing board by September 2, 2014,
and a copy of the requirements shall be
published and distributed to students, parents
and guardians. Copies of the requirements also
shall be available in each school building or on
each school entity’s publicly accessible web
site.”
- Rules and Regulations, Title 22-Education, chapter 4.
Graduation Requirements for Classes
of 2014 - 2016
• Course Completion and Grades
• Culminating Project
• Demonstration of proficiency in ELA and Math
as demonstrated on state assessments and/or
local assessments
Graduation Requirements for Classes
beginning in 2017
• Course Completion and Grades
• Demonstration of proficiency in each
academic standard area not assessed by the
state
• Pass Keystone Exams in ELA, Algebra I and
Biology (or complete the project-based
assessment) or Pass associated AP or IB exam
A few notes:
A school must allow a student to take a
Keystone Exam prior to taking the course
associated with the exam provided that the
student scored Advanced on the most recent
associated PSSA assessment administered to the
student.
A few notes:
A school must allow a student who transfers
from another state to take a Keystone Exam
prior to taking the course associated with the
exam provided that the student scored
comparable to the PSSA’s Advanced
performance level on a comparable assessment
administered by another state.
A few notes:
A school may allow a student who scores at the
advanced level on a particular Keystone Exam
prior to taking the course to be granted course
credit for the course without having to complete
the course.
Waiver of Graduation Requirements
The Chief School Administrator may waive
graduation requirements on a case-by-case basis
for a student who was not successful in
completing graduation requirements or for
extenuating circumstances. Each district must
submit a report to PDE annually indicating the
number of waivers issued.