HB 779 establishes a three-year pilot program to increase salaries for Head Start teachers in Pennsylvania. It targets Head Start programs located in school districts with at least 20% poverty or census tracts with 80% or lower median poverty. The program calculates a salary supplement by comparing Head Start teachers' qualifications to public elementary school teachers in the same district, then provides funds to align their pay. The Department of Education will select participating programs, collect data, and report findings to the legislature after one year.
SB 229 establishes a pilot program in Pennsylvania schools to fund secure, lockable bags for students to store cell phones during school hours. Participating schools must adopt policies banning phone use (with medical exemptions for conditions like diabetes) and track mental health, bullying, violence, and academic metrics over two years. The program provides grants for bag purchases, requires geographic funding distribution, and mandates a final report to lawmakers by 2026. It directly affects public and private schools across Pennsylvania, excluding staff phone use during work. The pilot expires December 1, 2026.
HB 772 amends Pennsylvania's Public School Code to update rules for suspending and expelling students. It directly affects public school students, particularly those under 8 years old in pre-kindergarten and elementary programs. The bill sets a 10-day limit for excluding students from in-person learning without a hearing and prohibits suspending or expelling children under 8 unless they pose an immediate threat of harm to others. These changes apply to all public schools and publicly funded pre-K programs across Pennsylvania.
HB 1565 would amend Pennsylvania's Public School Code to require public schools to include firearm safety instruction as part of their curriculum. This bill directly affects Pennsylvania public school students and educators by mandating this new component in courses of study. The key provision requires schools to develop and implement age-appropriate firearm safety education within existing instructional frameworks. It does not address gun access or ownership but focuses on integrating safety knowledge into school programming. The bill is currently referred to the Education committee for further review.
HB 1861 allows Pennsylvania public school districts to offer firefighter and emergency medical services (EMS) training as credit-bearing courses for students aged 16 or older who are active members of a fire company or EMS agency. The bill specifies that courses must cover nationally recognized Firefighter I training or Pennsylvania-approved EMT training, as defined by existing state law. School districts may provide transportation and supervision for off-campus training but are not required to cover course fees or materials. This policy change directly affects high school students in emergency services groups and gives school districts the option to integrate these career-focused courses into their curriculum.
HB 215 requires every public school in Pennsylvania to employ at least one certified professional librarian. The bill amends the Public School Code of 1949 to mandate that each school must have a librarian certified under Pennsylvania law (24 Pa.C.S. § 9319). This directly affects all public schools statewide by establishing a new staffing requirement for library professionals. The provision takes effect 60 days after the bill is enacted, with no exemptions specified. The change applies uniformly to all public schools, regardless of size or location.
This bill amends Pennsylvania's Public School Code to replace the Keystone Exams with the ACT test for high school graduation requirements in algebra I, literature, and biology, effective July 1, 2027. After that date, students must meet proficiency through the ACT or alternative pathways, including completing local coursework, scoring well on Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate exams, or providing evidence of postsecondary readiness. The bill updates definitions to include the ACT test and clarifies how students can demonstrate proficiency without taking the Keystone Exams. It directly affects Pennsylvania high school students and school districts responsible for implementing graduation requirements.
HB 1402 reduces the maximum fee for reviewing teacher certification applications under Pennsylvania's Public School Code to $50. It also creates a special exemption for military service members, veterans, and their spouses, requiring them to pay no more than $10 for certification fees and $25 for professional discipline fees. These changes directly affect educators seeking or maintaining teaching credentials in Pennsylvania public schools. The bill modifies existing sections of the 1949 Public School Code to implement these specific fee caps and exemptions.
SB 259 requires all public and nonpublic schools in Pennsylvania that use fossil fuel-based heating (like gas or oil) or have attached garages to install and maintain safety-approved carbon monoxide alarms in every classroom on the same level as those heat sources. Schools must meet specific safety standards for the alarms, such as being certified to ANSI/UL standards or clearly distinguishing CO alerts from smoke alarms. The bill mandates installation within 18 months of the law’s effective date and requires schools to cover maintenance, battery replacements, or repairs. Failure to comply results in a $50 fine for willful non-compliance.
SB 929 proposes a constitutional amendment to end school districts' authority to levy real property taxes after June 30, 2029. It directly affects Pennsylvania school districts, requiring the state to replace their lost property tax revenue through new state or local income, sales, or service taxes. The bill mandates that the General Assembly annually fund school districts at levels matching their pre-2029 property tax collections, depositing new tax revenue into a dedicated "Stabilization of Education Fund" exclusively for school support. It explicitly prohibits any future real property taxes and prevents diversion of funds from the stabilization account.
