HB 1405 amends Pennsylvania's Public School Code to create new pathways for veterans to become career and technical teachers in public schools. It allows veterans who served at least 8,000 hours (four years full-time) in an occupation they will teach to qualify for a Career and Technical Intern Certificate or Career and Technical Instructional I Certificate, bypassing some standard certification requirements. The bill specifically defines "veteran" as someone discharged under honorable conditions from U.S. Armed Forces, including National Guard or reserves. This directly affects veterans seeking teaching roles in career and technical education programs across Pennsylvania's public schools.
HB 1209 requires cyber charter schools in Pennsylvania to ensure all professional staff members hold state certification, including special education certification for those providing special education services. This amendment to the Public School Code directly affects cyber charter school employees and their employers by establishing standardized qualification requirements. The new rule takes effect 60 days after the bill is enacted, aligning cyber charter school staffing standards with those of traditional public schools.
This bill establishes a grant program to provide free menstrual products (such as pads and tampons) in Pennsylvania public schools. Schools with 25% or more students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch programs can apply for grants to purchase these products and install dispensers or disposal units. Recipients must report annual spending on products and dispenser maintenance to the state. The program is funded by a state appropriation for the 2025-2026 fiscal year.
SB 452 establishes the "Safe Path Restricted Account" within Pennsylvania's General Fund, transferring $50 million for fiscal year 2025-2026. The Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency will use these funds to award grants to political subdivisions and nonprofits operating safe passage programs. These programs aim to improve safety for youth and adults traveling to and from schools and community centers. Priority is given to applicants in areas with high gun violence rates, as determined by the Commission.
HB 2072 establishes a tuition waiver program for Native American students attending Pennsylvania colleges. It requires public and private colleges to waive tuition for students who are active members of tribes listed by the state (including tribes historically connected to Pennsylvania or the Carlisle Indian School). To qualify, students must apply to a college, enroll full- or part-time, and prove tribe membership through the state's published list. Colleges must report participation and retention data annually to the Department of Education. This program directly affects Native American students seeking higher education in Pennsylvania.
HB 1078 updates Pennsylvania's school health requirements to strengthen vision screening and eye health examinations for students. It mandates annual vision screenings by trained school personnel for all school-aged children, with comprehensive eye exams by licensed professionals required if screenings fail. The bill specifies that students must receive eye health exams upon school admission, in fourth grade, and eighth grade, and adds requirements for exams related to special education evaluations. Schools must notify parents of failed screenings and provide resources, but are not responsible for covering exam costs or treatment. This directly affects all public and nonpublic school students in Pennsylvania.
HB 339 requires Pennsylvania public schools (including districts, charter schools, and cyber charters) and eligible nonpublic schools to implement daily mental health check-ins for all kindergarten through 12th-grade students starting in the 2025-2026 school year. The bill mandates school entities to adopt policies identifying students experiencing stress, anxiety, depression, or at risk of suicide/self-harm based on their check-in responses. The state Department of Education must create and provide a model policy to all schools upon request. This policy change directly affects all K-12 students and school staff in Pennsylvania's public and qualifying nonpublic schools.
HB 1279 requires Pennsylvania colleges and universities, as well as private licensed schools, to implement evidence-based education programs on sexual misconduct (including consent, bystander intervention, and risk prevention) for all students and staff. The bill mandates staff training, establishes confidential resource advisors for victims, and requires institutions to create online reporting systems and conduct annual climate surveys. It also sets data reporting requirements for schools to track incidents, creates a Task Force on Postsecondary Sexual Misconduct, and provides academic waivers for student victims to avoid penalties related to incidents. These provisions aim to standardize prevention, response, and support across institutions.
SB 760 requires all Pennsylvania public, charter, and private school buildings to test for radon gas starting in the 2026-2027 school year. If radon levels reach or exceed 4 picocuries per liter, schools must implement mitigation (like sealing foundations or installing vents) and retest until levels drop below that threshold. New schools must use radon-resistant construction techniques, and all testing/mitigation must be performed by certified professionals following specific standards. Results must be reported to school boards, parents' groups, teachers' unions, and state agencies within 60 days.
HB 1437 creates a temporary sales tax exemption in Pennsylvania for specific personal items during an annual window. It excludes clothing accessories, footwear, school supplies, computers/software, and certain bedding items from sales tax when purchased by individuals for nonbusiness use during the first Friday in August through the following Sunday. The Department of Revenue must post a list of qualifying items online by July 10 each year. This policy change directly affects individual consumers shopping for these items during the defined exclusion period.
