Legislative References

Legislative Acronyms

BEC - Basic Education Circular. Find all BECs here.

CFR - Code of Federal Regulations. A database is available here.

Pa. C.S. - Pennsylvania Consolidated Statues. A database is available here.

P.S. - Purdon's Pennsylvania Statues. "The unofficial codification of the Pennsylvania laws published by Thomson Reuters (formerly West). John Purdon, Jr. was one of the original publishers of a subject version of the Laws of Pennsylvania, and the Purdon’s name was continued in subsequent editions" (Jenkins Law Library).

USC - United States Code. A database is available here.

AEDY-Specific Legislation

AEDY Guidelines - Issued 2020. Read the guidelines here.

BEC: Alternative Education for Disruptive Youth - Issued November 2019. Read the BEC here.

PDE-DOJ AEDY Settlement Agreement - April 2019. Read the full settlement agreement here. 

Relevant Special Education Legislation

22 Pa. Code § 14 - Special Education Services and Programs. Read the code here.

22 Pa. Code § 15 - Protected Handicapped Students. Read the code here.

22 Pa. Code § 14.015 - Personnel. Read the code here.

22 Pa. Code § 14.133 - Positive Behavior Support. Relevant for restraint policies. Read the code here.

22 Pa. Code § 14.143 - Disciplinary Placements. Read the code here.

22 Pa. Code § 711. Charter School and Cyber Charter School Services and Programs for Children with Disabilities. Read the code here.

22 Pa. Code § 711.46 - Positive Behavior Support. Relevant for restraint policies in charter schools. Read the code here.

22 Pa. Code § 711.61 - Suspension and Expulsion. Read the code here.

34 CFR 104 - Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Read Section 504 here.

35 CFR 104.35 - Evaluation and Placement. Read the federal regulation here. Cited by OSEP in Supporting Students with Disabilities and Avoiding the Discriminatory Use of Student Discipline under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, p. A-2).

34 CFR 300 - IDEA Part B. Assistance to States for the Education of Children with Disabilities. Read the federal regulations here.

34 CFR 300.111 - Child find. Read the federal regulation here.

34 CFR 300.323 - When IEPs must be in effect. Read the federal regulation here.

34 CFR 300.530 - Authority of school personnel. Read the federal regulation here. 

34 CFR 300.530 (e) - Manifestation determination. Read the federal regulation here. Subsection of 34 CFR 300.530.

34 CFR 300.530 (f) - If the behavior was a manifestation of the child's disability. Read the federal regulation here. Subsection of 34 CFR 300.530. 

34 CFR 300.530 (g) - Special circumstances for removal to an IAES. Read the federal regulation here. Subsection of 34 CFR 300.530.

34 CFR 300.532 (b) (2) (ii) - Order to an IAES. Read the federal regulation here. Subsection of 34 CFR 300.532.

34 CFR 300.536 - Change of placement because of disciplinary removals. Read the federal regulation here.

42 USC 12101 et. seq. - The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Read the act here.

BEC: Disciplinary Exclusions of Students Who Are Eligible for Special Education​ - Issued July 1999. Revised June 2021. Read the BEC here.

BEC: Use of Restraints for Students with Disabilities - Issued June 2016. Read the BEC here.

Fact Sheet: Supporting Students with Disabilities and Avoiding the Discriminatory Use of Student Discipline Under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 - Issued July 2022 by OSEP. Read the fact sheet here. 

Relevant English Learner Legislation

20 USC § 7801 (20) - Definition of English Learner.

22 Pa. Code § 4.26 - ESOL. Provision requirement for EL programming. Read the code here.

34 CFR 200.6 - Inclusion of all students. Read the federal regulation here.

34 CFR 200.6 (f) - English learners in general. Read the federal regulation here.

34 CFR 200.6 (g) - Assessing reading/language arts in English for English learners. Read the federal regulation here.

34 CFR 200.6 (h) - Assessing English language proficiency of English learners. Read the federal regulation here.

34 CFR 200.6 (i) - Recently arrived English learners. Read the federal regulation here.

BEC: Educating English Learners (ELs) - Issued July 2001. Revised July 2017. Read the BEC here. 

Relevant Pennsylvania Legislation

18 Pa. C.S. § 912 - Possession of a weapon on school property. Includes the definition of a weapon in PA code. Read the code here.

22 Pa. Code Chapter 49 - Certification of Professional Personnel. Read the code here.

22 Pa. Code § 4 - Academic Standards and Assessment. Read the code here.

22 Pa. Code § 11 - Student Attendance. Read the code here.

22 Pa. Code § 12.6 - Exclusions from School. Read the code here.

22 Pa. Code § 12.8 - Hearings. Read the code here.

23 P.S. § 6344 - Employees having contact with children. Read the statute here.

24 P.S. § 1-111 - Criminal History of Employees and Prospective Employees. Read the statute here.

24 P.S. § 12-1205.6 - Child Abuse Recognition and Reporting Training. Read the statute here.

24 P.S. §1303.2-A - Parental and Employee Notification of Weapon Incidents. Act 44 of 2025. Read the statute here. A BEC on Act 44 is available here (additionally cited at the bottom of this section).

24 P.S. § 13–1317.2 - Possession of Weapons Prohibited.

24 P.S. § 1318.1 - Act 110 of 2020 - Students Convicted or Adjudicated Delinquent of Sexual Assault. Read Act 110 here. Read a summary from PDE here.

24 P.S. § 13-1331.1 - Act 1 of 2022 - Assisting Students Experiencing Education Instability. Read Act 1 here.

24 P.S. §13-1317.2 - Possession of Weapons Prohibited. Read the statute here. 

24 P.S. § 19-1901-C - Disruptive Student Programs, definitions. Read the statute here.

24 P.S. § 19-1901-E - Definition of "Private alternative education institution." Read the statute here.

24 P.S. § 19-1902-C - Disruptive Student Programs, Applications. Read the statute here.

24 P.S. § 19-1902-E - Contracts with Private Alternative Education Institutions. Read the statute here.

35 P.S. § 780-104 - Controlled Substance, Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act. Defines "controlled substance" and lists Schedule I through V. Read the statute here.

44 Pa.C.S. § 73-7301 - § 73-7312 - Act 57 of 2020. Law Enforcement Background Investigations and Employment Information. Read the statute here.

BEC: Compulsory School Attendance, Unlawful Absences, and School Attendance Improvement Conferences - Issued August 8, 2006. Read the BEC here.

BEC: Parental and Employee Notification of Weapon Incidents. Issued January 7, 2026. Read the BEC here. 

Relevant Federal Legislation

16 CFR Part 312 - COPPA - Children's Online Privacy Protection Rule. Read the federal regulation here.

18 U.S.C. § 921(a)(3) - Definition of “firearm.” This definition of firearm is used in the Gun-Free Schools Act. Read the code here.

18 U.S.C. § 930(g)(2) - Definition of “dangerous weapon.” Read the code here.

18 USC § 2246 (4) - Definition of "serious bodily injury." Read the code here.

20 USC § 7961 - Gun-Free Schools Act. Read the code here.

21 USC § 812(c) - Controlled Substances Act. Identifies controlled substances under schedules I, II, III, IV, and V. Read the act here.

34 CFR Part 99 - FERPA - Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act. Read the federal regulation here.

45 CFR Part 160 - HIPAA - Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. Read the Privacy Rule here.