(a) The board shall consist of twenty-one (21) members, ten (10) of whom shall also serve as members of the Council of Basic Education, and ten (10) of whom shall also serve as members of the Council of Higher Education. The member designated by the Governor as chairman of the board shall also service¹ as a member of the Council of Basic Education and of the Council of Higher Education. Except the legislative members, each member shall be appointed by the Governor, by and with the advice and consent of a majority of all the members of the Senate, and shall, except as hereinafter provided, hold office for terms of six (6) years each or until his successor has been appointed and has qualified. An appointment to fill a vacancy shall be for the unexpired term or until his successor has been appointed and has qualified. The chairmen and minority chairmen of the House of Representatives and Senate Education Committees, or their respective designees from such committees, shall serve as ex officio members of the board with full voting privileges and shall serve as members for as long as they hold their respective positions. The Chairman of the Professional Standards and Practices Commission, or a commission member designated by the chairman, created by the act of December 12, 1973 (P.L. 397, No. 141), referred to as the Teacher Certification Law,² shall be an ex officio member of the board without voting privileges or assignment to either council. Members shall receive no salary but shall be entitled to travel expenses and other necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties as members of the board.

(b) Eleven (11) members shall constitute a quorum provided that at least five (5) members serving on each of the councils are present. The affirmative vote of a majority of all the members of the board duly recorded showing how each member voted shall be required in order to take action adopting statements of policy, standards, rules and regulations. The board shall meet at least six (6) times a year at such times and places as it shall determine. Special meetings may be called by the chairman or at the request of a majority of the members of the board.

(c) An appointed member who fails to attend three (3) consecutive board meetings shall forfeit his or her membership on the board, unless the board chairman, upon written request from the member, determines that the member should be excused from a meeting or meetings for reasons of illness or the death of an immediate family member.

(e) For the purpose of formulating policy proposals applicable to elementary, secondary, career and technical education and higher education in this Commonwealth, there shall be two councils, which shall consist of ten (10) members of the board each, the chairman being a member of both councils, and shall be known as the Council of Basic Education and the Council of Higher Education. The Governor shall designate to serve at his pleasure a member serving on each council to act as chairman of the council. Each council shall meet at the call of its chairman or at the request of a majority of the members of the council. The chairman of the board may appoint special joint committees from among the members of the board to formulate policy proposals in those areas which fall within the purview of both of the councils.

(f) Except for the chairman, not more than two (2) members serving on each council shall be employed either in a school system or in the Department of Education. For purposes of this subsection, the State System of Higher Education shall not be considered a school system. Three (3) members of the Council of Higher Education shall be actively employed by an institution of higher education, at least one holding an administrative position and at least one holding a professional position on a faculty of an institution of higher education. At least two (2) members serving on each council shall have had previous experience with career and technical education or training.

(g) The Secretary of Education, or his designated representative, shall be the chief executive officer of the board, shall be entitled to attend all meetings of the board and councils, and shall have the right to speak on all matters before the board and the councils but not to vote.