Education

This bill updates Pennsylvania's Public School Code to establish stricter attendance and safety rules specifically for cyber charter schools. It requires these schools to define clear policies for counting student presence during live online classes and completing weekly assignments for independent study, with penalties including funding withholding or charter revocation for non-compliance. Additionally, the legislation mandates that cyber charter schools implement wellness checks and create child protection plans to ensure student safety. The state education department will also develop standardized forms to help schools submit and approve these new attendance policies by a set deadline.

This resolution designates June 10, 2026, as "Just Be You Day" throughout Pennsylvania to honor Lynzi Allen, the author of the book "Just Be You." The bill aims to promote self-confidence, celebrate diversity, and support mental health awareness among young people by encouraging schools, communities, and social media users to participate in related events and campaigns. While the text outlines plans for future activities like school assemblies and digital initiatives, the resolution itself serves only to officially name the date and express encouragement for a statewide movement focused on inclusion.

This bill updates Pennsylvania's Public School Code to clarify attendance rules for charter and cyber charter schools while protecting students from unfair penalties. It requires cyber charter schools to define how students are marked present for online classes, specifically mandating that students be visible on camera during live lessons and complete weekly benchmarks for independent work. The legislation also prohibits school districts from counting absences as unexcused when students miss school due to a lack of transportation or when they arrive late to a single class, and it establishes a formal appeal process for parents to contest these determinations. Additionally, the bill strengthens reporting requirements, mandating that cyber charter schools submit data on student attendance and weekly benchmark completion to the state department.

This bill updates Pennsylvania's Public School Code to clarify attendance rules for charter, regional charter, and cyber charter schools while protecting students from unfair penalties for transportation issues. It requires cyber charter schools to define specific criteria for student presence during online classes, such as being visible on camera for live sessions or completing weekly benchmarks for independent work, and mandates that administrators cannot alter attendance records except to fix errors. The legislation also establishes a formal appeal process for families to contest unexcused absence or tardy determinations and prohibits schools from counting tardiness as an absence or penalizing students for missing school due to a lack of district-provided transportation. Additionally, the bill strengthens reporting requirements by mandating that cyber charter schools submit unexcused absence data and benchmark completion information directly to the state department. Finally, it tightens procedures for handling truancy by requiring schools to notify parents in writing within ten days of a violation and clarifies the steps schools must take when a child is habitually absent.

This bill amends Pennsylvania's personal income tax code to clarify that certain educational savings distributions are not taxable. Specifically, it ensures that withdrawals from qualified tuition programs rolled over into a Roth IRA remain exempt from state taxation, aligning state rules with federal tax exemptions. The change directly affects Pennsylvania residents who utilize these specific financial vehicles for education savings. By updating the Tax Reform Code, the legislation provides clear guidance on which income classes are excluded from state tax liability.

This Pennsylvania bill establishes a temporary program allowing businesses to receive tax credits for donations to scholarship and educational improvement organizations. The legislation sets specific annual spending limits for these credits, which are available only for fiscal years before 2027-2028, and creates a new restricted account to track the funds. It also defines various terms related to the program, including assessments and business firms, while assigning oversight duties to several state departments.

This bill limits the fees charged by the Pennsylvania Department of Education for reviewing teacher certification applications to a maximum of $50. It directly affects individuals seeking state teaching certificates by capping the cost of the eligibility review process. The funds collected from these fees must be deposited into the Talent Recruitment Account. The changes become effective 60 days after the bill is enacted.

This bill updates Pennsylvania's Public School Code to modernize the rules governing community colleges and the State Board of Higher Education. It clarifies definitions for college planning, outlines how new colleges are established, and details the powers of the State Board and local boards of trustees regarding student admissions, tuition, and degrees. The legislation also sets specific criteria for approving new colleges, such as ensuring sufficient local population and financial resources, while requiring long-term strategic planning for existing institutions.

This bill updates Pennsylvania's Public School Code to clarify how state funding is distributed to charter and cyber charter schools. It establishes a specific formula where local school districts must pay charter schools based on the per-student cost of operating the district's own programs, adjusted annually by wage and employment cost indices. The legislation also sets up a process where the state education secretary can deduct unpaid amounts from a district's state funds if the district fails to pay the charter school on time. These changes aim to ensure that charter schools receive consistent and predictable funding from the districts where their students reside.

This Senate Resolution designates the week of April 26 through May 2, 2026, as "Jewish Day Schools Week" in Pennsylvania to recognize the state's 34 Jewish day schools. The measure expresses appreciation for these institutions, which educate over 440,000 Jewish Pennsylvanians and provide cultural and religious instruction. The resolution highlights the schools' role in fostering community, offering bilingual education, and connecting students to global Jewish networks. It also notes that these schools have produced notable alumni such as Seth Rogen and Natalie Portman. This is a ceremonial designation with no changes to laws or funding.