§ 4.11. Purpose of public education.

 (a)  This section and § §  4.12 and 4.13 (relating to academic standards; and strategic plans planning) describe the purpose of public education, the academic standards, their relationship with one another and strategic plans.

 (b)  Public education prepares students for adult life by attending to their intellectual and developmental needs and challenging them to achieve at their highest level possible. In conjunction with families and other community institutions, public education prepares students to become self-directed, life-long learners and responsible, involved citizens.

 (c)  Together with parents, families and community institutions, public education provides opportunities for students to:

   (1)  Acquire knowledge and skills.

   (2)  Develop integrity.

   (3)  Process information.

   (4)  Think critically.

   (5)  Work independently.

   (6)  Collaborate with others.

   (7)  Adapt to change.

 (d)  The academic standards describe the knowledge and skills which students will be expected to demonstrate before graduating from a public school.

 (e)  Achievement of high academic standards in public education is dependent upon the quality of instruction in schools and student effort supported by the involvement of family and community.

 (f)  Assessment in public education is designed to determine student attainment of State and local academic standards.

 (g)  Public schools provide instruction throughout the curriculum so that students may develop knowledge and skills in the following areas:

   (1)  Reading, writing, speaking and listening.

   (2)  Mathematics.

   (3)  Science and technology.

   (4)  Environment and ecology.

   (5)  Social studies (civics and government, geography, economics and history).

   (6)  Arts and humanities.

   (7)  Career education and work.

   (8)  Health, safety and physical education.

   (9)  Family and consumer science.

 (h)  Public education provides planned instruction to enable students to attain academic standards under §  4.12. Planned instruction consists of at least the following elements:

   (1)  Objectives of a planned course, instructional unit or interdisciplinary studies to be achieved by all students.

   (2)  Content, including materials and activities, and estimated instructional time to be devoted to achieving the academic standards. Courses, instructional units or interdisciplinary studies of varying lengths of time may be taught.

   (3)  The relationship between the objectives of a planned course, instructional unit or interdisciplinary studies and academic standards specified under §  4.12 and to those determined in the school district’s (including charter schools) or AVTS’s strategic plan under §  4.13.

   (4)  Procedures for measurement of the objectives of a planned course, instructional unit or interdisciplinary studies.

   The provisions of this §  4.11 amended under the Public School Code of 1949 (24 P. S. 26-2603-B).

   The provisions of this §  4.11 amended February 15, 2008, effective February 16, 2008, 38 Pa.B. 872. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (307695) to (307696).