Education

in committee · Pennsylvania · House Jul 15, 2026

HB 2697: An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in pupils and attendance, further providing for exceptional children and education and training.

This bill modifies Pennsylvania's Public School Code to clarify who must prove their case during special education disputes. Specifically, it states that school districts generally bear the burden of proof in due process hearings involving exceptional children, unless the parents unilaterally chose a private school placement, in which case the parents must provide the proof. The law applies to situations concerning a child's identification, evaluation, classification, placement, or disciplinary actions. The changes are designed to streamline legal procedures by explicitly defining these responsibilities rather than leaving them open to interpretation.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill clarifies burden of proof in special education disputes, strengthening protections for exceptional children and ensuring fair access to education services.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Special Education

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Jun 5, 2026

SB 1362: An Act providing for the Milk Dispensary School Pilot Program; awarding grants; establishing the Milk Dispensary School Pilot Program Account; and imposing duties on the Department of Agriculture.

This bill establishes a ten-year pilot program in Pennsylvania to provide grants for schools to install milk dispensary systems that serve whole milk without packaging. The Department of Agriculture, working with the Center for Dairy Excellence, will manage the program by reviewing applications and funding eligible public and nonpublic schools that participate in federal nutrition programs. Grant recipients must prioritize waste reduction, serve low-income students, source milk locally, and share data on their results. To ensure safety and compliance, the program requires all systems to meet state and federal food standards while schools report quarterly data on milk usage and waste reduction.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill provides grants to schools for milk dispensary systems, improving student nutrition and reducing waste, which supports educational access and infrastructure.85% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill mandates waste reduction and local sourcing for milk dispensary systems, directly reducing packaging waste and supporting environmental conservation.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Health

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Jun 22, 2026

SB 1390: An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in school finances, providing for school mapping services.

This bill requires school districts in Pennsylvania that use state funding for mapping services to ensure their campus maps are compatible with emergency response software. The legislation mandates that these maps include detailed floor plans, accurate room labels, and verified data from onsite inspections while being stored securely within the United States. Before purchasing such services, districts must obtain written approval from their primary law enforcement agency to confirm the data meets specific safety standards.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill mandates improved campus maps for emergency response, enhancing school safety and infrastructure.85% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill mandates secure storage of campus maps within the US and compatibility with emergency response software, enhancing cybersecurity and data protection for schools.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education School Safety

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Jun 16, 2026

HB 2633: An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in construction and renovation of buildings by school entities, repealing provisions relating to maintenance program and to building condition assessments and further providing for project reimbursement and for applicability.

HB 2633 amends Pennsylvania's Public School Code to change how school districts are funded for building construction, maintenance, and renovations. The bill repeals existing grant programs for maintenance projects and building condition assessments, replacing them with a new reimbursement system that calculates payments based on enrollment, building capacity, and local wealth factors. Under the new rules, school entities would receive reimbursement over 20 years for approved projects, with a requirement to match 50% of the cost using local funds unless the project is an emergency. These changes apply to projects seeking approval beginning July 1, 2026, while allowing districts to retroactively seek approval for projects not yet completed by that date.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill establishes a new reimbursement system for school construction and renovations, ensuring continued funding for critical school infrastructure.85% confidence

Sub-Topics School Funding

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Jun 22, 2026

SB 1383: An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in pupils and attendance, further providing for residence and right to free school privileges; and, in charter schools, further providing for enrollment and notification.

This bill updates Pennsylvania's Public School Code to standardize how student residency is verified and how enrollment changes are reported for both traditional and cyber charter schools. It requires parents to submit a specific annual form by March 1 using a standardized list of acceptable documents, such as utility bills or leases, to prove their address, while exempting homeless students from these requirements. Additionally, the law mandates that cyber charter schools and parents notify the student's local school district within 10 business days of enrollment or any change in residence. These changes aim to streamline administrative processes and ensure consistent documentation across different types of school districts.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill streamlines residency verification and enrollment processes, enhancing access to public and cyber charter schools while protecting homeless students.85% confidence

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Jun 22, 2026

HB 2659: An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, establishing the Advanced Teaching Roles and Evidence-based Strategic Staffing Program; and imposing powers and duties on the Department of Education.

This bill creates a new program within the Pennsylvania Department of Education to fund school districts that adopt evidence-based staffing models designed to improve student learning. The legislation allows districts to receive grants to expand advanced teaching roles where effective teachers lead teams, share leadership responsibilities, and receive additional compensation tied to measurable student outcomes. Key provisions require that these staffing changes include protected time for collaboration, flexible scheduling, and alignment with other state education priorities like structured literacy. Ultimately, the bill aims to support districts in implementing innovative compensation and organizational structures that replicate successful teaching practices across the Commonwealth.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill creates funding for evidence-based staffing models and advanced teaching roles to improve student learning.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill funds advanced teaching roles and provides additional compensation tied to outcomes, strengthening teacher benefits and employment standards.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Teachers Labor Standards

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Jun 24, 2026

HB 2662: 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 permit for classroom monitors.

This bill amends Pennsylvania's Public School Code to extend the temporary program allowing students to serve as classroom monitors. It removes the June 30, 2026 expiration date for permits that let students under 18 work as monitors under teacher supervision. The change directly affects school districts and students by making the monitor program permanent rather than temporary.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill makes the student classroom monitor program permanent, expanding student involvement and support in schools.85% confidence

Sub-Topics School Safety Teachers

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Jun 9, 2026

HB 2618: An Act amending Title 75 (Vehicles) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in licensing of drivers, further providing for persons ineligible for licensing, license issuance to minors and junior driver's license.

This bill introduces a new junior driver's license for 16 and 17-year-olds in Pennsylvania, which automatically converts to a regular license at age 18. Under the proposed rules, junior drivers would generally be prohibited from driving between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. unless accompanied by a parent, spouse, or guardian. However, the legislation creates an exception allowing these drivers to drive during those hours for school-sponsored activities if they possess a letter from the school confirming the event. If a junior driver is stopped by police without this letter but can later prove they had it, the charges would be dismissed. The law also defines terms like "school-sponsored activity" to include events such as field trips, athletic activities, and club meetings.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill creates an exception allowing junior drivers to drive at night for school-sponsored activities, facilitating educational access.75% confidence

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Jun 18, 2026

SB 1380: An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in institutions of higher education, establishing the PA WORKS Scholarship Grant Program and the trade career-incentive tax credit.

This bill creates the PA WORKS Scholarship Grant Program to provide financial aid to Pennsylvania residents pursuing specific trade careers in fields like construction, automotive repair, and welding at colleges and universities. To qualify for a grant of up to $5,000 per year, students must maintain satisfactory grades and sign an agreement to live and work in an in-demand trade job within the state for 36 months after graduation. The legislation also establishes a trade career-incentive tax credit for businesses that hire graduates from these approved trade programs.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill creates a scholarship program funded by a tax credit, advancing fiscal management by incentivizing trade careers and utilizing tax policy to support public education goals.85% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill creates scholarship grants and tax credits to fund trade education, expanding access and financial aid for students.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill funds trade career education and incentivizes in-state employment, strengthening the labor workforce.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Tax Credits Career & Technical Education Student Financial Aid

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Jun 24, 2026

HB 2661: An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in pupils and attendance, further providing for residence and right to free school privileges; and, in charter schools, further providing for enrollment and notification.

This bill updates Pennsylvania's Public School Code to standardize how school districts verify student residency and how cyber charter schools handle enrollment notifications. It requires parents to submit a specific, limited form with proof of address, such as a lease, utility bill, or driver's license, by March 1 each year, while exempting homeless students from these requirements. Additionally, the law mandates that cyber charter schools notify a student's local district within 10 business days of enrollment and requires parents to report any changes in address promptly. These measures aim to clarify administrative procedures for attendance and ensure that all students, including those in online charter programs, are properly registered in their districts.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill streamlines residency verification and protects homeless students, enhancing educational access and enrollment clarity.85% confidence

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