In December 2023, Act 56 of 2023 was signed into law by Governor Shapiro, providing flexibility to school districts in scheduling instructional time. Rather than requiring a minimum of 180 school days and 900 or more instruction hours each academic year, districts can now choose between 180 days or 900 instruction hours for elementary students and 990 instruction hours for secondary students. This change allows districts to adopt modified schedules, including a four-day school week.
 
     However, Pennsylvania’s Child Labor Act, which sets standards for the employment of minors in the state,  specifically references a five-day regular school week that runs Monday through Friday. The definition of  "regular school week" does not account for a modified school week that is now permitted under the Public School Code.
 
     For this reason, I am introducing legislation that brings the Child Labor Act’s definition of regular school week into alignment with the School Code. This will help to avoid confusion if school districts decide to adopt a four-day school week now or in the future.

     Please join me in cosponsoring this simple, straightforward fix.