Education

in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Mar 17, 2025

SB 459: 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 Imagination Library Program and the Imagination Library of Pennsylvania Restricted Account; and imposing duties on the Department of Education.

SB 459 establishes Pennsylvania's Statewide Imagination Library Program, providing free monthly age-appropriate books to children under five years old in the state. The program is funded through a dedicated state account (using state funds, gifts, and federal dollars) and requires local partners to match funding dollar-for-dollar, with waivers possible for financial hardship. The Department of Education administers the program, coordinating with a nonprofit partner to manage book distribution, local program development, and public awareness. This directly affects eligible children and local community organizations participating in the initiative.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationEstablishes free book program for children under five, enhancing early literacy access and funding through state/federal resources, directly advancing educational access for young learners.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Libraries

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Jan 22, 2025

HB 228: An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in the State Board of Education, further providing for definitions and providing for academic standards review; and making editorial changes.

HB 228 requires Pennsylvania's State Board of Education to review all academic standards every three years to ensure they are age-appropriate, industry-specific, academically challenging, and aligned with job market needs. The bill mandates the board to submit detailed reports to education committee leaders in both legislative chambers, including updates to standards, reasons for changes, stakeholder involvement, and implementation timelines. It clarifies the State Board's relationship with the Department of Education and updates membership rules for education councils. This bill directly affects public school curriculum development and accountability processes across Pennsylvania's K-12 system.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRequires State Board to review academic standards every 3 years for job market alignment, ensuring curriculum relevance and rigor per bill language.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum K-12 Education

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passed · Pennsylvania · House Apr 11, 2025

HB 819: 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 continuing professional development; providing for access to rigorous courses of study for all students; establishing the Access to Rigorous Courses of Study for All Students Grant Program; and imposing duties on the Department of Education.

HB 819 amends Pennsylvania's teacher certification rules to require expanded professional development options, including manufacturing workplace visits and coaching for advanced courses. It establishes a grant program to help schools that lack access to rigorous courses - such as AP, IB, dual enrollment, or career-focused programs - by funding educator training and course offerings. The law mandates school entities to provide these courses and sets benchmarks for eligibility, with the Department of Education overseeing implementation. This directly affects teachers (through updated certification requirements) and schools struggling to offer college-level coursework.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationEstablishes grant program for rigorous courses (AP/IB/dual enrollment) and mandates teacher training, directly expanding educational access and supporting educators.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Teachers

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passed · Pennsylvania · House Jun 18, 2025

HB 191: 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, repealing provisions relating to CPR instruction; and, in school health services, repealing provisions relating to automatic external defibrillators and providing for AED and CPR instruction and procedure, for Automated External Defibrillator Program and for availability and specifications of automated external defibrillators.

HB 191 updates Pennsylvania's school safety requirements by replacing outdated rules about CPR and defibrillator training. It repeals old teacher certification requirements for CPR instruction and school health service rules about automatic external defibrillators (AEDs). The bill now mandates new CPR and AED training for school staff, sets specific standards for AED availability and placement in schools, and establishes an official AED program. This directly affects public schools, teachers, and school health personnel by requiring updated emergency response protocols. The bill focuses on modernizing school health safety procedures rather than changing other aspects of education.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates CPR/AED training for staff and sets AED standards, strengthening school safety protocols without funding changes.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates CPR/AED training and AED standards for school staff, directly improving workplace safety for educators and school personnel.90% confidence

Sub-Topics School Safety Teachers Professional Licensing

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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

Sub-Topics Sentencing Victims' Rights Violent Crime

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Jan 27, 2025

HB 356: 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, further providing for youth suicide awareness and prevention and providing for violence prevention and social inclusion.

HB 356 requires Pennsylvania public and private schools serving grades 6-12 to provide annual, evidence-based training on youth suicide awareness and prevention (at least one hour per school year), along with violence prevention training (also one hour annually). For grades K-12, schools must also offer social inclusion training (one hour yearly) focused on identifying social isolation and building peer connections. The Pennsylvania Department of Education must develop and publish a list of approved, no-cost training materials within one year of the law's effective date. These requirements apply directly to all school entities in the state, mandating specific content for students and staff on mental health, violence prevention, and social inclusion.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates annual suicide prevention, violence prevention, and social inclusion training for K-12 schools, enhancing student support programs and well-being initiatives.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates school-based suicide prevention training (mental health focus) and social inclusion programs, directly supporting mental health services under public health initiatives.90% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education School Safety Student Health

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passed · Pennsylvania · House Jun 23, 2026

HB 538: An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in sexual violence, dating violence, domestic violence and stalking education, prevention and response at institutions of higher education and private licensed schools, further providing for scope of article, for definitions, for education program and for follow-up; and making an editorial change.

HB 538 requires colleges and private licensed schools to implement education, prevention, and response programs addressing sexual violence, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking for students and staff. It updates the 1949 Public School Code by adding specific definitions, mandating annual training, and requiring follow-up procedures after incidents. The bill expands existing requirements to cover all institutions of higher education, ensuring consistent policies across affected schools. This is a substantive policy change focused on improving safety protocols, not a procedural or commemorative measure.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill mandates educational programs on violence prevention for students/staff in higher education and private schools, requiring annual training and follow-up to strengthen safety education within institutions.85% confidence

Sub-Topics School Safety

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Mar 17, 2025

SB 433: An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in intermediate units, further providing for powers and duties of the intermediate unit board of directors and for capital subsidy.

This bill amends Pennsylvania's Public School Code to change how intermediate school service agencies (like regional education providers) handle facility acquisitions and state funding. It grants intermediate unit boards the power to buy, lease, or accept gifts of land/buildings (Section 914-A(11)) but requires pre-approval from the Secretary of Education for all lease/loan agreements involving facilities (Section 919.1-A(a)). The state will provide capital subsidies based on a formula: student enrollment multiplied by average district spending per student, then multiplied by 0.03% (using the latest available data). This directly affects intermediate units and school districts using their services, as it alters facility financing rules and state funding calculations.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill establishes state capital subsidies for intermediate unit facility acquisitions, directly funding school infrastructure improvements without defunding. Explicitly enhances educational facility management.85% confidence

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Oct 16, 2025

HB 1943: 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, further providing for automatic external defibrillators, providing for automated external defibrillators and training, further providing for sudden cardiac arrest and electrocardiogram testing and providing for electrocardiogram testing for interscholastic athletics; and, in terms and courses of study, further providing for cardiopulmonary resuscitation education.

This bill updates Pennsylvania's school health requirements to require automatic external defibrillators (AEDs) in all public schools. It mandates CPR training for school staff and adds electrocardiogram (ECG) testing for student athletes before participating in interscholastic sports. The law directly affects public schools, staff, and student athletes by establishing new health safety protocols for sudden cardiac arrest prevention. Key provisions include equipping schools with AEDs, requiring staff CPR certification, and implementing ECG screenings for athletic eligibility. The bill was referred to the Education committee on October 16, 2025.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates AEDs, CPR training, and ECG testing for student athletes, enhancing school safety protocols to protect students and staff in educational settings.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates AEDs, CPR training, and ECG testing for student athletes to prevent sudden cardiac death, directly improving school health safety protocols and patient access to emergency care.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Health

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Mar 5, 2025

HB 817: An Act amending the act of June 27, 2006 (1st Sp.Sess., P.L.1873, No.1), known as the Taxpayer Relief Act, in taxation by school districts, further providing for public referendum requirements for increasing certain taxes.

HB 817 amends Pennsylvania's Taxpayer Relief Act to add a new rule for school district tax increases. It prohibits the Department of Education from approving a school district's request to raise certain taxes if that district received an exception under prior tax rules for the previous two fiscal years. This directly affects Pennsylvania school districts seeking to increase local taxes, requiring them to avoid recent exceptions to gain departmental approval. The bill modifies existing tax approval procedures without changing the public referendum requirement for tax hikes.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesRestricts school district tax increases by requiring absence of prior exceptions, limiting local tax hikes under Taxpayer Relief Act.95% confidence ✗ EducationOpposes EducationRestricts school district tax increases by denying approval for districts with recent exceptions, limiting potential funding sources for schools.90% confidence

Sub-Topics School Funding

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