Education

passed · Pennsylvania · House May 5, 2026

HR 437: A Resolution recognizing the month of April 2026 as "National Poetry Month" in Pennsylvania.

This bill is a House Resolution that formally recognizes April 2026 as "National Poetry Month" within Pennsylvania. It does not create new laws or change existing policies, but rather serves as an official statement of support for poetry and the literary arts. The resolution acknowledges the cultural and educational value of poetry, noting its role in education and community engagement. Sponsored by multiple legislators, it aims to honor the tradition of celebrating poetry during this designated month.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill recognizes poetry month, acknowledging educational value of poetry and literary arts in schools, though symbolic rather than substantive policy change75% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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passed · Pennsylvania · House May 5, 2026

HR 228: A Resolution designating July 31, 2025, as "Intern Day" in Pennsylvania.

This resolution designates July 31, 2025, as "Intern Day" in Pennsylvania to recognize the value of internships for students, educational institutions, and employers. It aims to raise awareness about work-based learning opportunities that connect classroom education with workplace skills, aligning with national observances. The bill does not create new laws or funding but symbolically highlights Pennsylvania’s commitment to supporting internships as part of economic development. It directly affects students seeking career experience, career and technical centers, and businesses offering internships.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationPromotes internships as work-based learning connecting classroom education to workplace skills, raising awareness for student and institutional benefit. Symbolic endorsement of educational opportunities without funding.80% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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passed · Pennsylvania · House May 1, 2026

HB 2218: An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, providing for comprehensive school counseling services.

HB 2218 amends Pennsylvania's Public School Code to require all school entities (including districts, charter schools, cyber charters, and career schools) to develop and implement a written comprehensive school counseling plan. The bill mandates that each plan, created by certified school counselors, must include annual reviews, K-12 systemic alignment, grade-level and building-specific strategies, and integration with existing student services plans. Key provisions define "direct services" (like individual counseling and classroom instruction) and "indirect services" (such as parent consultations), requiring plans to guide students in academic, career, and social-emotional development. The law establishes specific components for the plan - foundation, management, delivery, and accountability - without specifying funding or new programs.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill mandates comprehensive school counseling plans for all schools, requiring certified counselors to create aligned, systematic plans, thus strengthening student support services.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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passed · Pennsylvania · House May 1, 2026

HB 2176: An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in terms and courses of study, providing for social media literacy education.

HB 2176 would require Pennsylvania public and nonpublic schools to integrate social media literacy into their curriculum. The bill mandates that state academic standards include specific lessons on social media's mental, psychological, and physical impacts on students, its effects on learning, safe online behavior (including identifying cyberbullying and predatory activity), and personal device security. The Department of Education must develop educational materials and provide professional development for teachers on these topics. This bill directly affects all Pennsylvania schools, including public school districts, charter schools, and nonpublic schools, by adding concrete requirements to student learning standards.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill mandates social media literacy curriculum integration, addressing mental health impacts and online safety per state standards, strengthening educational content on digital citizenship.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyMandates social media literacy education on safe behavior, cyberbullying, and device security, enhancing cybersecurity awareness and digital rights education.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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passed · Pennsylvania · House May 1, 2026

HB 830: An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in student supports, further providing for policy relating to bullying.

This bill requires Pennsylvania public schools to adopt or update a bullying policy that includes clear disciplinary consequences for bullying incidents and designates a staff member to handle reports. Schools must notify parents within five days of a bullying or cyberbullying incident while following federal privacy laws. The policy may also include prevention and intervention programs, and the bill clarifies that bullying involves repeated, severe acts in a school setting that disrupt education or create a threatening environment. Cyberbullying is specifically defined as bullying occurring via electronic devices during school hours.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates stronger bullying policies with disciplinary consequences and parent notification in public schools, directly enhancing student safety and educational access per topic description.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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passed · Pennsylvania · House Apr 17, 2026

HB 1706: An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in school health services, providing for student mental health awareness.

HB 1706 requires Pennsylvania schools to integrate student mental health awareness into existing health education standards and school operations. It mandates the State Board of Education to update health standards, the Department of Health and Education to develop public guidelines on mental health warning signs for students and families, and schools to notify students and parents twice yearly about local mental health services. The bill also requires school entities to report student absences or injuries in activities to student assistance programs and directs the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association to add mental health training to coach certification by the 2025-2026 school year. This bill directly affects all public, private, and parochial schools in Pennsylvania, their students, families, and athletic staff.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates mental health awareness integration into school health curriculum and services, enhancing student well-being support within education framework.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates mental health awareness integration in schools, updates health standards, and provides resources for students/families, directly supporting mental health services.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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passed · Pennsylvania · House Feb 13, 2026

HB 460: An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in certification of teachers, further providing for child abuse recognition and reporting training; and, in terms and courses of study, providing for child abuse awareness and prevention.

HB 460 requires all teachers in Pennsylvania public schools to complete child abuse recognition and reporting training as part of their certification process. It amends the Public School Code of 1949 to integrate this training into both initial certification and ongoing educator requirements. The bill directly affects educators by mandating specific training to identify and report suspected abuse, ensuring schools meet updated child safety standards. This change applies to all public school teachers, including those seeking certification or renewing credentials.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates child abuse training for teachers to enhance student safety, strengthening educator requirements under the Public School Code.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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passed · Pennsylvania · House Feb 13, 2026

HB 1935: An Act amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in assault, further providing for the offense of terroristic threats.

HB 1935 requires individuals convicted of terroristic threats to pay restitution for costs incurred during evacuations, including emergency response, transportation, and employee wages for first responders. It also mandates a sentencing enhancement for threats targeting schools or institutions of higher education, which the Pennsylvania Commission on Sentencing must consider. The bill defines "school entity" to include public, charter, private, and cyber charter schools, and "institution of higher education" to cover specific universities like Penn State, Pitt, Temple, and others. These changes directly affect offenders who make terroristic threats in educational settings, holding them financially accountable for the costs their actions trigger.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeMandates restitution and sentencing enhancements for terroristic threats targeting schools, increasing penalties rather than promoting reform or reducing recidivism.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill mandates sentencing enhancements for threats targeting schools/institutions of higher education, directly protecting educational environments through legal measures.92% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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passed · Pennsylvania · House Dec 22, 2025

HB 1768: An Act establishing the Local Food Purchasing Incentive Grant Program, the Keystone Producer Grant Program, the Keystone Assistance Grant Program and the Keystone Fresh Farm to School Account; and imposing duties on the Department of Education and the Department of Agriculture.

HB 1768 establishes four new grant programs to support Pennsylvania's local food system. It provides incentives for schools and institutions to purchase local food (Local Food Purchasing Incentive Grant), offers financial assistance to farmers for production improvements (Keystone Producer Grant), supports food distribution networks (Keystone Assistance Grant), and funds school meal programs sourcing from local farms (Keystone Fresh Farm to School Account). The Department of Agriculture and Department of Education would administer these programs and manage the grant allocations. The bill directly affects Pennsylvania farmers, schools, food distributors, and local food businesses by creating new funding mechanisms to strengthen regional food systems.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allocates state funds via new grant programs (Local Food Purchasing, Keystone Producer, etc.) for agricultural support, increasing government spending on food system initiatives.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill creates Keystone Fresh Farm to School Account funding school meal programs sourcing local farms, directly supporting student nutrition and access within K-12 education system.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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passed · Pennsylvania · House Dec 22, 2025

HB 1663: An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, establishing the Statewide Children's Literacy Program and the Children's Literacy Program of Pennsylvania Restricted Account; and imposing duties on the Department of Education.

HB 1663 establishes Pennsylvania's Statewide Imagination Library Program under the Public School Code of 1949, creating a dedicated funding account managed by the Department of Education. The bill directly affects Pennsylvania children, particularly those from birth through age five, by providing free books through the program. Key provisions require the Department of Education to administer the program and manage the Imagination Library of Pennsylvania Restricted Account for funding. The bill is currently under review in the Children & Youth committee after being removed from the legislative table in November 2025.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationEstablishes free book program for ages birth-5, enhancing early childhood educational access through dedicated funding and Department of Education administration.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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