HB 2486 requires Pennsylvania public schools to create and share mental health support policies for students. The bill mandates that educators in grades six through twelve receive four hours of mental health training every five years. Additionally, the state Department of Education will develop model policies, training materials, and a curriculum to guide schools in identifying student needs and providing appropriate support.
This bill creates a grant program to help Pennsylvania school districts and career and technical schools update their educational materials. Eligible schools can apply for funding to buy digital platforms or printed curricula that include lesson plans, multimedia content, and tools for tracking student progress. The amount each school receives is calculated based on its student enrollment and the total state funding available for the program. To qualify, schools must receive a recommendation from their local occupational advisory committee and certify that the funds will be used for approved curriculum modernization.
This bill directs Pennsylvania's Department of Education to create a statewide curriculum for shipbuilding and maritime trades to support the state's growing maritime industry. The program will include hands-on training in skills like welding and pipe fitting, align with existing apprenticeships, and offer college credits to help students transition into these careers. To fund the initiative, the bill establishes a competitive grant program for schools to purchase equipment, train teachers, and launch new courses. Additionally, the Department of Education must work with labor groups and employers to ensure the training meets industry needs and submit annual reports on student participation and grant usage.
This bill amends Pennsylvania's Public School Code of 1949 to allow the Secretary of Education to temporarily waive a requirement that career and technical education programs must end by twelfth grade. The change directly affects students in vocational and technical education programs and gives the state education secretary the authority to approve programs that extend beyond high school graduation. The waiver is limited to three years or until final regulations are issued, whichever happens first, and does not prevent existing programs from ending in twelfth grade. Students already enrolled in these programs before the waiver expires will not be affected by the change.
This bill creates a tax credit for Pennsylvania educators who purchase instructional materials or supplies for classroom use. Professional employees in public, charter, cyber, and nonpublic schools can claim a credit equal to the amount they spent on qualifying expenses, up to a maximum of $500 per year. The Department of Revenue will establish rules to determine which expenses qualify and must publish guidelines online while submitting annual reports on program usage. The credit applies to tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2025, and cannot be carried forward, carried back, sold, or assigned.
This bill creates the CareerBound Program to connect Pennsylvania students with high-priority job opportunities through school-to-work partnerships. It establishes a formal framework where schools, local workforce boards, and businesses collaborate to provide career exploration, relevant curriculum, and workplace exposure for students. The legislation also creates a tax credit program to encourage businesses to participate in these partnerships by offering financial incentives for hiring students in high-demand occupations. State agencies including the Department of Labor and Industry and the Department of Community and Economic Development will administer the program and oversee its implementation.
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.
SB 1103 requires Pennsylvania public libraries and school libraries to adopt a policy against removing books or materials due to partisan or doctrinal disapproval to qualify for state aid, either by adopting the American Library Association's Library Bill of Rights or creating a written policy. The bill prohibits public schools from removing required classroom materials or non-required materials (such as books for independent reading) for reasons including an author's race, gender identity, sexual orientation, political views, or content related to student educational needs. It specifically bans removals based on school board or complainant discomfort, personal morality, or religious views. The law takes effect 60 days after enactment.
SB 1116 requires Pennsylvania public schools to provide age-appropriate instruction on communism beginning in the 2026-2027 school year. It mandates teaching the origins of communist ideology, historical communist regimes, documented human rights abuses under such systems, survivor accounts, and comparisons between communist governance and U.S. democratic principles (including constitutional protections and freedoms). The Pennsylvania Department of Education must develop and distribute curriculum materials, primary sources, and teacher training by May 2026, integrating lessons into existing courses like history and civics. Schools must report annually on implementation, with all materials and summaries made publicly available online. The bill defines "communism" as a political ideology advocating for centralized economic control and one-party rule, and "totalitarian ideology" as systems suppressing dissent and individual freedoms.
SB 839 requires Pennsylvania public schools to incorporate media literacy education into K-12 curricula. The bill mandates the Department of Education to develop an age-appropriate model curriculum within 12 months, covering critical thinking about media messages, bias, misinformation, marketing tactics, and perspective gaps. School districts must implement this curriculum starting the school year after the bill takes effect. The Department must also provide free online resources and teacher training on media literacy.
