AN ACT EXPANDING THE PHILIPPINE SCIENCE HIGH SCHOOL (PSHS) SYSTEM, FURTHER STRENGTHENING ITS GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT, REPEALING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8496 OR THE "PHILIPPINE SCIENCE HIGH SCHOOL SYSTEM ACT OF 1997", AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

Creation of the PSHS Board of Trustees. - There shall be created a Board of Trustees, hereinafter referred to as the Board, composed of the following members: (a) Secretary of Science and Technology, as ex officio Chairperson; (b) Secretary of Education, as ex officio Vice Chairperson; (c) President of the University of the Philippines; (d) Executive Director of the PSHS; (e) Director of the Science Education Institute; (f) President of the PSHS National Alumni Association; (g) Chairpersons of the Committee on Science and Technology of the Senate and the House of Representatives, as ex officio members; (h) One (1) representative each from the private sector, representing higher education, child development professionals or practitioners, industry, agriculture, and new emerging technologies. The private sector representatives shall be appointed by the Board upon recommendation of a duly constituted search committee. The private sector representatives shall serve a term of four (4) years. SEC. 9. Powers and Functions of the PSHS Board of Trustees. -The Board shall exercise the following powers and functions: (a) Formulate policies, guidelines, and criteria for the establishments, administration, operation, monitoring, and evaluation of PSHS campuses to ensure consistent quality standards; (b) Identify additional PSHS campuses as provided under Section 5 of this Act, and the naming or renaming of existing or future campuses; (c) Formulate policies for the increase in enrollment in the PSHS System; (d) Approve the curriculum developed by the Executive Committee under Section 16 of this Act; (e) Approve the criteria for the selection, admission, and lateral transfer of students; (f) Approve the grant and termination of scholarships, including stipends and allowances for students; (g) Approve the graduation of successful candidates from various PSHS campuses; (h) Approve policies and disciplinary rules for students, faculty members, and staff; (i)  Approve the organizational structure and staffing pattern of the PSHS System, as prepared by the Executive Director, subject to the Revised Compensation and Position Classification System, civil service laws, rules and regulations, and other relevant laws; (j) Formulate policies on appointment, promotion, retention or renewal of contracts, compensation, removal for just cause, rewards, incentives, and other conditions of employment; (k) Approve the selection criteria for Executive Director, Deputy Executive Directors, and Campus Directors, and the selection of teaching and non-teaching personnel; (l) Appoint the Executive Director, Deputy Executive Directors, and Campus Directors; (m) Reorganize the composition of the Executive Committee and other committees; (n) Approve the extension of services of faculty members over the sixty-five (65) up to the age of seventy (70) pursuant to Republic Act No. 8439 or the "Magna Carta for Scientists, Engineers, Researchers and other S&T Personnel in the Government", as amended; (o) Receive and appropriate for purposes herein specified such sums as may be provided by law for the support of the PSHS System; (p) Receive grants, bequests, endowments, gifts, donations, and contributions of cash and real and personal properties of all kinds, and administer the same for the benefit of the PSHS System or for aid to any of its students; (q) Authorize the utilization of income generated by the PSHS System to support its functions and donations received in trust by individual campuses, in accordance with the donor's specified purpose and the intended use of the donation: Provided, That for income or donations not designated for a particular campus, the Board shall allocate such income or donation for the benefit of the PSHS System or any of its campuses, as the Board may deem appropriate; (r) Receive support under the "Adopt-A-School Program" for the improvement of its learning research facilities and related activities; (s) Approve partnerships and collaborations entered into by the PSHS System and its campuses with local and international institutions; and (t) Perform such other functions as may be necessary to implement the provisions of this Act. SEC. 10. Executive Director. - The PSHS System shall be headed by an Executive Director who shall exercise academic and administrative supervision over all campuses and coordinate the implementation of policies and guidelines set by the Board. The Executive Director, who shall be appointed by the Board for a term of six (6) years and may be reappointed for another term of six (6) years in accordance with the guidelines and qualifications set forth in the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of this Act, must have an advanced degree in the field of STEM and substantial experience in managing an educational institution. The Executive Director shall have the rank, privileges, and emoluments of Director V and a salary grade of thirty (30). The Executive Director shall be allowed to complete the term of six (60 years even upon reaching the mandatory age of retirement but shall no longer be eligible for reappointment for another term. SEC. 11. Duties and Functions of the Executive Director. - The Executive Director shall perform the following duties and functions: (a) Coordinate the implementation of Board-approved admission processes, criteria, and standards; (b) Facilitate and coordinate curriculum planning, review and evaluation activities and research-based development on the PSHS System; (c) Monitor, coordinate, and evaluate research projects and initiatives in all PSHS campuses; (d) Manage the registration of intellectual property, prototype development, and the commercialization or adoption of research outputs of students; (e) Provide legal and technical assistance to student, faculty members, and staff of the PSHS System in line with their studies and official functions; (f) Establish strategic linkages, and coordinate exchange and training programs with local and international partners to enhance the expertise and competencies of students, faculty, members, and staff; (g) Facilitate networking and sharing of resources, expertise, equipment, and technology across PSHS campuses with partner institutions to ensure access to advanced tools and facilities that support academic and research excellence; (h) Supervise the development of a systemwide outreach program to upgrade STEM education, extend support to PSHS campuses, and facilitate partnerships with the Department of Education Science High Schools and Special Science Elementary and High School Programs within the capabilities and resources of various science high school campuses; (i) Recommend to the Board the organizational structure and staffing pattern of the PSHS System; (j) Serve as secretariat to the Board; and (k) Perform such other functions as may be necessary to implement the provisions of this Act.