Education

in committee · Pennsylvania · House Jul 14, 2025

HB 1732: An Act amending the act of January 28, 1988 (P.L.24, No.11), known as the Private Academic Schools Act, further providing for application for license, for issuance and renewal of license and for promulgation of rules and regulations.

HB 1732 amends Pennsylvania's Private Academic Schools Act to streamline licensing for private schools. It allows schools to submit applications before securing a physical facility (with a site plan and timeline) and to include staffing projections for qualified staff. The bill creates a new six-month conditional license option for schools meeting most requirements but needing to finalize staffing or facility details. It also requires the State Board of Private Academic Schools to establish new rules for teacher qualifications within 180 days, which must be in place before new or renewed licenses are issued. This directly affects private academic schools seeking or renewing licenses in Pennsylvania.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationStreamlines licensing for private schools, reducing operational barriers and expanding educational access options within K-12 framework.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Teachers

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Jul 24, 2025

HB 1763: An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in educational tax credits, further providing for definitions and providing for compliance with Federal tax credit for contributions to scholarship organizations.

HB 1763 aligns Pennsylvania's tax credit program with a federal tax credit for contributions to scholarship organizations. It requires scholarship organizations in Pennsylvania to verify their tax-exempt status, maintain separate accounts for scholarship funds, provide scholarships to at least 10 students from different schools, spend 90% of income on scholarships, and verify applicants' household income to ensure eligibility. Organizations must submit compliance documentation by June 1, 2026, and annually thereafter, with the state department confirming their eligibility for the federal tax credit. This directly affects scholarship organizations seeking to participate in the federal tax credit program, ensuring they meet federal requirements to allow donors to claim tax benefits.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill establishes tax credit program for scholarship contributions, aligning with federal tax credit to provide tax relief for contributors.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationEnables tax-credit scholarships for student access to educational programs, expanding options through private school funding mechanisms.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Tax Credits School Choice Student Financial Aid

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Sep 9, 2025

HB 1850: An Act amending the act of March 4, 1971 (P.L.6, No.2), known as the Tax Reform Code of 1971, providing for teacher tax credit.

HB 1850 amends Pennsylvania's Tax Reform Code of 1971 to create a new tax credit for teachers. The bill directly affects eligible K-12 teachers by allowing them to reduce their state income tax liability. Its key provision establishes a specific dollar amount credit for teachers meeting certain criteria, such as years of service or teaching in designated subjects. This change would lower the taxable income for qualifying educators under Pennsylvania's tax system. The bill is currently in the Finance Committee for review.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates tax credit for teachers, reducing state income tax liability, providing tax relief for middle-income educators under Tax Reform Code.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates tax credit for K-12 teachers, reducing their tax burden and supporting educators financially per bill's direct provision.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Income Tax Tax Credits K-12 Education Teachers

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Jan 14, 2025

HB 82: 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, establishing the School Bus Driver Epinephrine Auto-injector Training Grant Program; and imposing duties on the Department of Education.

HB 82 establishes a grant program to train school bus drivers in recognizing symptoms of severe allergic reactions and safely administering epinephrine auto-injectors. School entities, including public school districts and charter schools, may require drivers to complete this training before transporting students. The Department of Education will administer the program, providing grants to fund training programs that teach drivers to identify anaphylaxis symptoms and use epinephrine devices. This policy directly affects school bus drivers, students with allergies, and school entities responsible for transportation safety.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationEstablishes grant program for school bus driver anaphylaxis training, enhancing student safety through Department of Education-administered funding and requirements for school entities.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill creates a grant program to train school bus drivers in epinephrine administration for anaphylaxis, improving emergency health response in schools and advancing public health access.95% confidence

Sub-Topics School Safety School Transportation Student Health

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Feb 26, 2025

SB 290: An Act providing for funding for certain State-related universities for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025, and ending June 30, 2026, for costs basis, for frequency of payments and for recordkeeping requirements; imposing a duty on the Auditor General; providing for financial statements, for the Agricultural College Land Scrip Fund and for restrictions; and making appropriations.

SB 290 allocates $242 million to Penn State, $151.5 million to Pitt, $158.2 million to Temple, and $21.9 million to Lincoln University for the 2025-2026 fiscal year, funding their general operations. It requires universities to submit monthly cost estimates to the state, submit detailed spending reports within 120 days of the fiscal year-end, and use funds only for approved purposes like instruction and student services. The bill restricts Pitt from using funds for its environmental law clinic and mandates that all spending be audited by the Auditor General, who can recover misused funds. These provisions ensure transparency, accountability, and compliance with state financial reporting standards.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $673.6M to state universities for general operations, increasing public education funding per appropriations language.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationAllocates $242M+ to state universities for general operations, directly funding higher education institutions per bill's funding provisions.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Jan 22, 2025

HB 249: An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, providing for school counseling services.

HB 249 requires Pennsylvania school entities (including districts, charter schools, and career schools) to develop a written school counseling plan focused on academic and career development for all students. The plan, created by a certified counselor, must include four components: foundation (vision/goals), management (data-driven), delivery (direct services like classroom instruction and individual counseling), and accountability (regular analysis), while excluding medical guidance, social and emotional learning, critical race theory, and behavioral health from its framework. School counselors must dedicate sufficient time to direct services (e.g., student counseling) and indirect services (e.g., parent consultations), and the plan must be reviewed annually with input from school staff, parents, and students. This bill directly affects schools and counselors by standardizing counseling services under state-mandated requirements.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates comprehensive school counseling plans focused on academic/career development, directly enhancing student support services and program quality in K-12 education.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Health

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passed · Pennsylvania · Senate Feb 4, 2026

SB 116: 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, providing for credit for employment at congregate care facility.

SB 116 allows high school juniors and seniors (age 16+) attending public or nonpublic schools in Pennsylvania to earn elective graduation credits for work at qualifying care facilities. Students may receive one elective credit for every 250 hours worked (up to a maximum of two credits) at a congregate care facility, such as a nursing home, personal care home, or assisted living residence. Schools must establish an application process requiring details like facility contact information, job description, and verified hours, and must approve applications before awarding credit. The bill directly affects students seeking to fulfill graduation requirements through work experience in healthcare or care settings.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationAllows students to earn elective credits for work at care facilities, expanding curriculum options and educational opportunities through practical experience.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Career & Technical Education Curriculum K-12 Education

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Sep 4, 2025

HB 1829: An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in disclosure of interscholastic athletic opportunities, providing for annual evaluation.

HB 1829 requires Pennsylvania public schools to disclose information about sports opportunities available to students and to conduct an annual evaluation of these opportunities. The bill amends the Public School Code of 1949 to mandate these requirements for all public school districts in the state. Key provisions include the annual disclosure of details about sports programs (such as team offerings and participation opportunities) and the annual review process to assess accessibility and availability. This policy change would require schools to regularly report on and evaluate their athletic programs.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates disclosure and annual evaluation of sports opportunities to ensure accessibility, promoting transparency and equitable access in school athletics as part of educational access.80% confidence

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Apr 21, 2025

HB 1132: 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, providing for unhealthy ultra-processed food prohibited in competitive foods.

HB 1132 prohibits Pennsylvania public schools from selling or offering "unhealthy ultra-processed foods" as competitive foods during the school day. It defines "ultra-processed food" as items containing specific additives like artificial colors, stabilizers, non-nutritive sweeteners, or flavor enhancers (excluding natural seasonings), and "unhealthy" as failing FDA standards for the term "healthy" on labels. Competitive foods - such as vending machine snacks or cafeteria items sold alongside school meals - are banned if they contain these unhealthy items. The law takes effect July 1, 2027, directly affecting public school food vendors, students, and school nutrition programs across Pennsylvania.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationProhibits unhealthy ultra-processed foods in school competitive foods to promote student health under Public School Code, aligning with educational health standards and student well-being.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProhibits unhealthy ultra-processed foods in schools per FDA health standards, advancing child nutrition public health initiative.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Health

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Feb 25, 2025

SB 304: An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, providing for military education scholarship account; and imposing penalties.

SB 304 creates a new "Military Education Scholarship Account" program under Pennsylvania's Public School Code, designed to provide financial support for education expenses for children of active-duty military members (including National Guard and reserve members on active duty) or children of service members killed in action. Parents of eligible school-age children can apply for a state-controlled account holding funds that may be used for approved education costs at private schools, colleges, or approved tutoring programs. The program prohibits use of these funds alongside other state scholarship programs like the Educational Improvement Tax Credit. If a child moves out of state or the agreement ends, remaining funds revert to the child's local school district.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates new state-funded scholarship program, increasing government spending on military education support through dedicated budget allocation.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates scholarship program funding education expenses for military children's K-12 and higher education, expanding access via state-controlled funds.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Tax Credits School Choice Student Financial Aid

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