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HB 1744

An Act amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in authorized disposition of offenders, further providing for sentence for murder, murder of unborn child and murder of law enforcement officer.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Scott Conklin and 4 co-sponsors

Establishes a multi-agency Quality Control Committee to enforce KPI-based graduation requirements and post-graduation validation, tying diplomas to soft-skill KPIs.

Referred to Judiciary
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HB 1744

Summary — HB 1744

Title: Establishes a quality control committee for oversight and enacts education reforms
Introduced: Jan 6, 2025 (Prefiled, House)
Primary sponsors listed in materials: Rep. Wooldridge; Sen. D. Wallace; Rep. Joe C. Sosnowski (multiple-state drafting/versions appear in the document)

Note: The bill text provided contains material from multiple jurisdictions and versions. The substantive education reform and “quality control committee” provisions summarized below reflect the Missouri-centered portion of HB 1744 (the provisions that create a Quality Control Committee for Oversight and restructure elementary and secondary education duties).

Main purpose

To refocus the department of elementary and secondary education on producing graduates who are prepared to contribute to the economy and communities, to require educational entities to incorporate defined “key performance indicators” (KPIs) into curricula and graduation requirements, and to create a multi‑agency Quality Control Committee for oversight, measurement, and post‑graduation validation.

Key provisions and changes

  • Departmental mission: Declares the department’s mission as producing graduates who contribute positively to the economy and communities; requires that mission be reflected across curricula and graduation requirements for all “educational entities.”
  • Key Performance Indicators (KPIs): Specifies non‑academic KPIs that graduating students must demonstrate (examples listed include: punctuality; respect/kindness; following instructions; work ethic; initiative; discernment).
  • Graduation requirements: Requires high schools to ensure each graduating student meets the KPIs before awarding a diploma or high school equivalency (HSE) certificate.
  • Quality Control Committee for Oversight:
    • Established within the Secretary of State’s office.
    • Membership: senior representatives from multiple state agencies (DESE, Higher Education & Workforce Development, Labor, National Guard, Commerce & Insurance, Social Services, Corrections) plus one state representative and one state senator appointed by leaders; four‑year terms.
    • Chair: full‑time, four‑year appointment (not eligible to be the member from DESE, Corrections, or Social Services).
    • Duties: define outcome goals/standards; set methods for collecting and reporting outcome metrics; adopt quality control tests and target metrics; design post‑graduation validation measures (including use of payroll, benefits, higher‑education enrollment, corrections data); require and publish policies/procedures and standards.
    • Authority to implement an employer reporting system to assess employee performance relative to KPIs and to make data available to state departments for benefit‑eligibility determinations.
    • May create working groups or staff to implement responsibilities.
  • Department duties: develop processes and policies so educational entities meet committee requirements; implement quality control systems; maintain accountability for graduates failing to meet committee standards; ensure early childhood providers incorporate KPIs.
  • Transfers: Text also indicates administrative transfers (e.g., Missouri School for the Deaf and Blind moved into the department by “type I transfer”) and other departmental restructuring.

Who is affected

  • All educational entities as defined in the bill: public and private schools, school districts, charter schools, virtual schools, home schools, early childhood providers, and entities operating FPE schools.
  • Students (particularly high school seniors seeking diplomas/HSE certificates).
  • School administrators, teachers and curriculum planners (must align curricula to KPIs and evidence collection).
  • Employers (invited/required to report on graduate performance under an employer reporting system).
  • State agencies (data sharing for post‑graduation validation and oversight).
  • Local school boards (new course examination/defense procedures referenced).

Procedural/timeline notes

  • The version provided was filed/prefiled Jan 6, 2025. The package of legislative activity in the supplied record includes many readings, committee referrals, amendments and cross‑jurisdictional drafts; readers should consult the official state legislative site for a single authoritative status and enacted text for the relevant state.
  • Implementation would likely require departmental rulemaking, interagency data‑sharing agreements, creation/funding of the committee, and development of measurement/reporting systems.

Potential impacts and considerations

  • Accountability: Creates stronger statewide oversight and a post‑graduation validation regime tied to labor/benefits data.
  • Graduation policy shift: Links diplomas/HSE to demonstration of specified soft skills — could change assessment practices and affect graduation rates.
  • Administrative burden: Schools must develop documentation/assessment processes, defend courses relative to the department mission, and comply with reporting.
  • Privacy and data access: Committee authority to use payroll, benefits, higher‑education and corrections data and to create employer reporting raises questions about student privacy, data security, and statutory authority for data sharing.
  • Resource needs: Implementation will require funding for the committee, a full‑time chair, data systems, and possible training for districts.

For clarity on final text, fiscal impacts, and current legal status, consult the state legislature’s official bill tracking and the enacted statute (if passed) for the jurisdiction where this HB 1744 is being considered.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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