1. (a) The middle level planned instruction aligned with academic standards serves children who are approximately 11—14 years of age. School entities may modify the grouping of students based upon student needs identified by the school entity.
2. (b) Curriculum and instruction in the middle level program must be standards-based and focus on mastery of academic subjects, the development of critical and creative thinking, information literacy, good health and encourage active participation in the school and community.

3. (c) Planned instruction aligned with academic standards in the following areas shall be provided to every student in the middle level program. Planned instruction may be provided as a separate course or as an instructional unit within a course or other interdisciplinary instructional activity:

   1. (1) English Language Arts, integrating reading informational text, reading literature, writing, and speaking and listening.
   2. (2) Mathematics, including mathematical reasoning, algebra and problem-solving.
   3. (3) Science, environment and ecology, which involves active learning experiences and which may include laboratory experiments, instruction in agriculture and agricultural science, and political and economic aspects of ecology.
   4. (4) Social studies (civics and government, economics, geography and history, including the history and cultures of the United States, the Commonwealth, and the world).
   5. (5) {Reserved}.
   6. (6) Information skills, including access to traditional and electronic information sources, computer use and research.
   7. (7) Health, safety and physical education, including instruction in concepts and skills which affect personal, family and community health and safety, nutrition, physical fitness, movement concepts, motor skill development, safety in physical activity settings, and the prevention of alcohol, chemical and tobacco abuse.
   8. (8) The arts, including art, music, dance and theatre.
   9. (9) Career education, including exposure to various employability skills, career awareness and work-based learning experiences and the educational preparation necessary to achieve those experiences.
   10. (10) Technology and engineering, focusing on the interactions among technology, engineering, society, the environment, and other disciplines, with a goal of developing students that can create, utilize, and assess current and emerging technologies.
   11. (11) Family and consumer sciences, including principles of food science and nutrition, consumer behavior, and basic knowledge of child development, child health and child care skills.
   12. (12) Personal finance.
4. (d) This section does not preclude the teaching of other planned instruction designed to achieve a school entity’s academic standards.
5. (e) School entities shall determine the most appropriate way to operate their middle level programs to achieve the purposes under subsection (b) and any additional academic standards as determined by the school entity.

Authority

The provisions of this § 4.22 amended under sections 121, 290.1, 1551, 2603-B and 2604-B of the Public School Code of 1949 (24 P.S. § § 1-121, 2-290.1, 15-1551, 26-2603-B and 26-2604-B).

Source

The provisions of this § 4.22 amended February 15, 2008, effective February 16, 2008, 38 Pa.B. 872; amended February 28, 2014, effective March 1, 2014, 44 Pa.B. 1131; amended July 15, 2022, effective July 16, 2022, 52 Pa.B. 3946; amended February 7, 2025, effective February 8, 2025, 55 Pa.B. 1234. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (410350) to (410351).

Cross References

This section cited in 22 Pa. Code § 4.27 (relating to physical education and athletics).