Act 55 of 2024 introduced a crucial exception from in-person school safety and security drills for cyber charter school educators who are not physically located within the Commonwealth and exclusively provide instruction remotely. However, this legislation did not address all scenarios within the cyber charter school system.

I am proposing to expand this exemption to include all cyber charter school educators who are fully remote employees, regardless of the school's physical infrastructure. This expansion is necessary because some cyber charter schools operate without physical buildings, and a significant number of educators work entirely remotely, even for schools with physical locations.

The exemption would be provided via a waiver by the cyber charter which is reported to the School Safety and Security Committee under the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency through the annual school safety and security coordinator report.

This legislation demonstrates a thoughtful approach to addressing the unique needs of cyber charter schools while maintaining high standards for school safety and security. It provides necessary flexibility without compromising on accountability, making it a balanced and forward-thinking addition to educational policy.

I strongly urge my colleagues to support this legislation. It represents a positive step towards modernizing our approach to education while ensuring the safety and security of our educational institutions remain paramount.
 

Statutes/Laws affected:
Printer's No. 0052: P.L.30, No.14