HB 354 requires Pennsylvania school entities to implement "What Is Your Pennsylvania Story" guidelines, a program designed to collect and share student and community narratives about Pennsylvania's history and culture. The bill directly affects all public and nonpublic schools, including charter schools, by mandating participation in this storytelling initiative. The Department of Education must develop and enforce these guidelines, including standards for content and submission processes. The bill became law on July 7, 2025, after receiving final approval from the governor.
HB 1336 allocates funds from the Public School Employees' Retirement Fund (PSERS) and the PSERS Defined Contribution Fund to cover the operational expenses of the Public School Employees' Retirement Board for fiscal year 2025-2026 (July 1, 2025-June 30, 2026), including unpaid bills from the prior fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. The bill directly affects the Retirement Board by providing it with necessary funding to manage its operations and settle outstanding obligations. It is a procedural appropriations bill that does not alter retirement benefits or policy, but ensures the board has financial resources to function. The bill was enacted as Act No. 5A of 2025 after approval by both chambers and the Governor on June 27, 2025.
SB 700 requires Pennsylvania public schools to adopt research-backed reading curricula aligned with the science of reading, beginning with the 2026-2027 school year. It mandates schools to use approved reading screeners to identify early literacy struggles, develop intervention plans for struggling students, and notify parents about their child’s reading progress. The bill creates a state list of approved curricula and screeners, overseen by a 20-member Reading Leadership Council including teachers and specialists, and requires schools to report adoption and screening data. Schools must also provide free, required professional development for educators on evidence-based reading instruction and intervention methods. This directly affects all K-3 public school students, their teachers, and parents through updated curriculum, screening, and intervention requirements.
SB 733 requires Pennsylvania colleges and universities to provide mandatory financial aid exit counseling to students during their final academic term, unless they opt out. It specifically mandates that institutions attempt to contact students who transfer or withdraw without notice, mailing counseling materials to their last known address if direct contact fails. The bill directly affects undergraduate students leaving Pennsylvania higher education institutions, focusing on transparency around student loan repayment obligations. This amendment to the Public School Code updates accountability measures for student financial guidance upon enrollment departure.
Senate Bill 310 mandates that, beginning with the 2025-2026 school year, high school students in Pennsylvania's public, nonpublic, and private schools must file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) before graduating. Students or their parents/legal guardians can choose to opt out of filing the FAFSA by submitting a state-developed form to their school. Schools are responsible for providing this opt-out form and may exempt students if they cannot be reached and no FAFSA or opt-out form is submitted. The bill clarifies that schools do not require personal financial information from students or families, and any inadvertently obtained information is not a public record.
SB 470 proposes to create a Secondary Education Fire Training Pilot Program in Pennsylvania, allowing high school students aged 16+ to earn credit for firefighter and emergency medical services training through partnerships between schools and colleges. The bill establishes a Fire Training Fund to accept donations and provides $150,000 per participating college over the 4-year pilot period. It requires three regional colleges to partner with school entities (including districts and charter schools) to offer Firefighter I certification courses, with the goal of increasing volunteer firefighter recruitment. The program includes a post-pilot survey to assess its impact on local volunteer fire departments. This is proposed legislation pending final approval, with an effective date of January 1, 2026.
