CHAPTER 55. ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS
(GRADES 1 TO 8)
SCHOOL PLANT
Sec.
55.1. Floor space.
55.2. Restrooms.
55.3. Furnishings.
PROFESSIONAL STAFF
55.11. Teachers.
55.12. Directors.
55.13. Teaching load.
INSTRUCTIONAL EQUIPMENT AND MATERIALS
55.21. Instructional equipment and materials.
55.22. [Reserved].
55.23. Chalk boards.
PROGRAM OF INSTRUCTION
55.31. Curriculum.
55.32. [Reserved].
55.33. Library/media sources.
55.41. [Reserved].Authority The provisions of this Chapter 55 issued under act of June 25, 1947 (P. L. 951, No. 401) (24 P. S. § § 2731—2743), unless otherwise noted.
SCHOOL PLANT
§ 55.1. Floor space.
(a) Indoor. There shall be a minimum of 30 square feet of floor space per child in the indoor classrooms for grades one, two and three. For grades four to eight there shall be a minimum of 25 square feet of floor space per child in the indoor classrooms. Classrooms shall have a minimum height of 8-foot ceilings.
(b) Outdoor. There shall be a minimum of 60 square feet of accessible space per child in the outdoor activity area, for grades one, two and three. For grades four to eight there shall be a minimum of 100 square feet of accessible space per child in the outdoor activity area.
Authority The provisions of this § 55.1 amended under the Private Academic Schools Act (24 P. S. § § 6701—6721).
Source The provisions of this § 55.1 adopted June 11, 1968, effective June 26, 1969; amended October 22, 1976, effective October 23, 1976, 6 Pa.B. 2665; amended August 19, 1988, effective August 20, 1988, 18 Pa.B. 3689. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (30559) to (30560).
§ 55.2. Restrooms.
(a) There shall be separate toilet and washbowl facilities for boys and girls.
(b) For students in grades one, two and three, there shall be a minimum of one flush toilet and one washbowl for every 15 students of each sex.
(c) For students in grades four to eight there shall be a minimum of one flush toilet for every 20 girls and one flush toilet and two urinals for every 40 boys. A restroom shall have at least one washbowl for every 40 students using that room.
Authority The provisions of this § 55.2 amended under the Private Academic Schools Act (24 P. S. § § 6701—6721).
Source The provisions of this § 55.2 adopted June 11, 1968, effective June 26, 1969; amended August 19, 1988, effective August 20, 1988, 18 Pa.B. 3689. Immediately preceding text appears at serial page (30560).
§ 55.3. Furnishings.
Wall and floor coverings, and furniture shall be of such type and quality as will assure safe and sanitary conditions.
Source The provisions of this § 55.3 adopted June 11, 1968, effective June 26, 1969.
PROFESSIONAL STAFF
§ 55.11. Teachers.
In addition to the general requirements of § § 51.31 and 51.34 (relating to general requirements; and certification for teachers), elementary school teachers shall meet one of the following requirements:
(1) Be a graduate of an approved 4-year college or university with a Pennsylvania teaching certificate in elementary education to teach grades K through 6, or a Pennsylvania early childhood certificate to teach grades N through 3.
(2) Be a graduate of an approved 4-year college or university and shall apply for a private academic teaching certificate by submitting documentary evidence of the successful completion of a minimum of 18 semester hours in the theory of elementary education.
(3) Be a graduate of an approved 4-year college or university and submit documentary evidence of a minimum of 2 years of successful teaching experience in a public, nonpublic nonlicensed or accredited elementary school.
Authority The provisions of this § 55.11 amended under the Private Academic Schools Act (24 P. S. § § 6701—6721).
Source The provisions of this § 55.11 adopted June 11, 1968, effective June 26, 1969; amended October 22, 1976, effective October 23, 1976, 6 Pa.B. 2665; amended August 19, 1988, effective August 20, 1988, 18 Pa.B. 3689. Immediately preceding text appears at serial page (30561).
Cross References This section cited in 22 Pa. Code § 55.12 (relating to directors); 22 Pa. Code § 61.21 (relating to teachers); and 22 Pa. Code § 63.12 (relating to teachers).
§ 55.12. Directors.
A director shall be qualified in accordance with § § 51.34, 51.36 and 55.11 (relating to certification for teachers; directors; and teachers).
Authority The provisions of this § 55.12 amended under the Private Academic Schools Act (24 P. S. § § 6701—6721).
Source The provisions of this § 55.12 adopted June 11, 1968, effective June 26, 1969; amended October 22, 1976, effective October 23, 1976, 6 Pa.B. 2665; amended August 19, 1988, effective August 20, 1988, 18 Pa.B. 3689. Immediately preceding text appears at serial page (30561).
§ 55.13. Teaching load.
(a) Grades one, two, and three may not have more than 25 students under the direction of one teacher at one time.
(b) Grades four to eight inclusive may not have more than 30 students under the direction of one teacher at one time.
Source The provisions of this § 55.13 adopted June 11, 1968, effective June 26, 1969.
INSTRUCTIONAL EQUIPMENT AND MATERIALS
§ 55.21. Instructional equipment and materials.
(a) There shall be instructional materials and indoor and outdoor equipment consistent with the best current educational theories and practices. These materials shall be used in concert with the objectives, philosophy and teaching methodology of the school, and they shall accommodate the number of children enrolled in the school.
(b) [Reserved].
Authority The provisions of this § 55.21 amended under the Private Academic Schools Act (24 P. S. § § 6701—6721).
Source The provisions of this § 55.21 adopted June 11, 1968, effective June 26, 1969; amended October 22, 1976, effective October 23, 1976, 6 Pa.B. 2665; amended August 19, 1988, effective August 20, 1988, 18 Pa.B. 3689. Immediately preceding text appears at serial page (30562).
§ 55.22. [Reserved].
Source The provisions of this § 55.22 adopted June 11, 1968, effective June 26, 1969; amended August 19, 1988, effective August 20, 1988, 18 Pa.B. 3689. Immediately preceding text appears at serial page (30562).
§ 55.23. Chalk boards.
Schools shall provide and maintain, in each classroom, chalk boards or their equivalents placed at heights appropriate for the age level and grade level of the students using them.
Authority The provisions of this § 55.23 amended under the Private Academic Schools Act (24 P. S. § § 6701—6721).
Source The provisions of this § 55.23 adopted June 11, 1968, effective June 26, 1969; amended August 19, 1988, effective August 20, 1988, 18 Pa.B. 3689. Immediately preceding text appears at serial page (30562).
PROGRAM OF INSTRUCTION
§ 55.31. Curriculum.
(a) The following subjects shall be taught to every student every year in the English language, and from English texts:
(1) English, including listening and speaking.
(2) Reading.
(3) Spelling.
(4) Writing.
(5) Mathematics.
(6) Science.
(7) Social Studies.
(8) Health.
(9) Physical education.
(10) Art.
(11) Music.
(b) The following subjects shall be taught at least once during the elementary grades. The subjects may be taught as separate subjects or integrated into other appropriate subjects:
(1) History of the United States.
(2) History of Pennsylvania.
(3) Geography.
(4) Civics.
(5) Safety Education.
(c) Written planned courses—See § 51.52 (relating to curriculum requirements)—shall be available for each subject taught.
Authority The provisions of this § 55.31 amended under the Private Academic Schools Act (24 P. S. § § 6701—6721).
Source The provisions of this § 55.31 adopted June 11, 1968, effective June 26, 1969; amended October 22, 1976, effective October 23, 1976, 6 Pa.B. 2665; amended August 19, 1988, effective August 20, 1988, 18 Pa.B. 3689. Immediately preceding text appears at serial page (30563).
Cross References This section cited in 22 Pa. Code § 59.21 (relating to program of instruction).
§ 55.32. [Reserved].
Source The provisions of this § 55.32 adopted June 11, 1968, effective June 26, 1969; amended August 19, 1988, effective August 20, 1988, 18 Pa.B. 3689. Immediately preceding text appears at serial page (30563).
§ 55.33. Library/media services.
(a) A school shall maintain a library/media collection which includes a variety of both print and nonprint materials and related equipment of sufficient quality and quantity to support and supplement the instructional program.
(b) Certified school librarians shall provide leadership in the development and implementation of a school library/media program.
(c) There shall be a minimum quantity of 1,000 items per grade of print and nonprint materials and equipment. As used in this subsection, the term ‘‘items’’ means books, films, filmstrips, tapes, records, globes, slide sets, periodicals, audio-visual equipment, maps and other items which supplement the school’s program. Books classified as textbooks may not be included as an item count except when used in limited numbers as reference books.
Source The provisions of this § 55.33 adopted August 19, 1988, effective August 20, 1988, 18 Pa.B. 3689; corrected September 2, 1988, effective August 20, 1988, 18 Pa.B. 4004.
§ 55.41. [Reserved].
Source The provisions of this § 55.41 adopted June 11, 1968, effective June 26, 1969; amended August 19, 1988, effective August 20, 1988, 18 Pa.B. 3689. Immediately preceding text appears at serial page (30564).
No part of the information on this site may be reproduced for profit or sold for profit.
This material has been drawn directly from the official Pennsylvania Code full text database. Due to the limitations of HTML or differences in display capabilities of different browsers, this version may differ slightly from the official printed version.
