Education (Teachers)

in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Apr 4, 2025

SB 547: 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 continuing professional development; providing for access to advanced courses for all students; establishing the Access to Advanced Courses for All Students Grant Program; and imposing duties on the Department of Education.

SB 547 amends Pennsylvania's Public School Code to expand access to advanced courses for secondary students (grades 7-12) and support school entities in meeting new benchmarks. It establishes the "Access to Advanced Courses for All Students Grant Program" to fund educator training, exam fee assistance for students, and nationally normed assessments. Starting in the 2026-2027 school year, schools must report course offerings and student participation, while the Department of Education will set access benchmarks and identify schools needing support. The bill directly affects school districts, charter schools, and their students by requiring expanded opportunities in core academic areas like math, science, and computer science. It also adds new teacher professional development options, including workplace visits and advanced coursework coaching.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationEstablishes grant program for advanced course access, educator training, and exam fees, expanding student opportunities and supporting schools per bill's explicit provisions.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Teachers

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Feb 20, 2025

HB 667: An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in professional employees, providing for restrictions on administrative meetings during instructional time or planning periods.

HB 667 amends Pennsylvania's Public School Code to protect classroom teachers' instructional and planning time. It prohibits requiring teachers to attend administrative meetings during teaching hours unless covered by another qualified teacher or substitute. If meetings occur during a teacher's designated planning period (time for lesson prep, parent communication, or grading), schools must offer compensatory time or replace the diverted time. The bill applies to all public school districts, joint districts, intermediate units, and career schools, taking effect 60 days after enactment.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationProtects teachers' instructional/planning time from administrative disruptions, supporting educator effectiveness and school operations per bill's explicit language.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProtects teachers' instructional time and planning periods from administrative disruptions, aligning with workplace safety and employment standards by preventing forced meeting attendance during work hours.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Teachers Labor Standards

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Mar 6, 2025

HB 827: 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 Cross-age Tutoring Program.

HB 827 creates a state-mandated Cross-age Tutoring Program within Pennsylvania's public schools. It requires the Department of Education to publish evidence-based guidelines enabling 11th and 12th grade students (under teacher supervision) to volunteer as tutors for younger students. The program must include tutor qualifications, tutee eligibility, academic credits for tutors, training, and session structure, while ensuring tutoring supplements - rather than replaces - existing instructional services. This directly affects all Pennsylvania public school entities (districts, charter schools, etc.) and students in grades 11-12 who participate as tutors or receive tutoring.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationHB 827 mandates a state-supported cross-age tutoring program in public schools, providing academic credits for tutors and evidence-based guidelines to enhance student learning opportunities without replacing existing instruction.95% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education Teachers

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Mar 26, 2025

HB 1054: 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, further providing for Holocaust, genocide and human rights violations instruction.

This bill requires all Pennsylvania public and private (nonpublic) schools to integrate Holocaust, genocide, and human rights violations instruction into social studies and language arts courses starting with the 2027-2028 school year. The state education department must create curriculum guidelines within 12 months of the bill's effective date, covering specific topics like the Holocaust's history, global genocides (including Rwanda), and human rights violations such as systemic discrimination and torture. Schools must provide teacher training on these topics, and the state board will track compliance through a study, potentially requiring mandatory instruction if less than 90% of schools currently offer it. This applies to all public school districts, charter schools, cyber charters, intermediate units, and nonpublic schools upon request.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates Holocaust/genocide/human rights instruction in social studies/language arts curriculum, enhancing educational content on critical historical topics and human rights awareness.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum Teachers

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Jan 22, 2025

HB 227: An Act prohibiting public school entities from engaging in certain communications and actions involving prohibited indoctrination; and providing for requirements for public contractors and for enforcement.

HB 227, the "Honesty in Teaching Act," prohibits Pennsylvania public schools (including districts, charter schools, and cyber charters) and their contractors from compelling students to adopt beliefs that suggest any group is inherently superior or inferior based on protected characteristics like race, gender, sexual orientation, or disability. It bans communications promoting discrimination or group-based superiority (Section 3(a)), requires teacher training focused on fostering independent thinking over advancing personal beliefs (Section 3(e)), and mandates contracts with contractors include a statement prohibiting "prohibited indoctrination" (Section 4). Complaints about violations can be filed with school boards, with penalties for false claims under Pennsylvania law (Section 5). The bill directly affects public school employees, contractors, and students by restricting specific instructional content while allowing discussion of controversial topics.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationProhibits schools from teaching concepts about group superiority based on protected characteristics, restricting curriculum content and academic freedom in K-12 education.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum Teachers

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Mar 3, 2025

HB 779: An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in professional employees, providing for Head Start Teacher Salary Supplement Pilot Program.

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.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates state funds to increase Head Start teacher salaries in high-poverty districts, aligning pay with public school teachers and funding essential early education programs.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationEstablishes salary supplement for Head Start teachers in high-poverty districts, aligning pay with public school teachers to support educator compensation and retention.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill establishes salary supplement for Head Start teachers to align pay with public school teachers, directly increasing wages for workers in targeted districts.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Early Childhood K-12 Education Teachers

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passed · Pennsylvania · House Jun 18, 2025

HB 1402: 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, providing for State certificate fee reduction and further providing for professional educator discipline fee .

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.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill reduces teacher certification fees to $50 and exempts military-affiliated educators from higher costs, directly supporting educators by lowering barriers to credentialing.90% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransBill explicitly exempts veterans/spouses from full teaching certification fees, reducing costs for employment in education - a direct employment support for veterans.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Teachers

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Jan 27, 2025

HB 332: 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 media literacy education.

HB 332 requires Pennsylvania public schools (K-12) to incorporate media literacy education into their curriculum starting the school year after the law takes effect. The state Department of Education must develop an age-appropriate model curriculum within six months, covering skills like identifying bias, recognizing misinformation, understanding media influence, and evaluating messages. School districts must adopt this curriculum, and the state will provide free resources and teacher training through public websites. This law directly affects all Pennsylvania public school students and educators by mandating concrete media literacy instruction.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates media literacy curriculum integration for K-12, enhancing student critical thinking and media evaluation skills per bill requirements.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum K-12 Education Teachers

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Feb 13, 2025

SB 254: An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, providing for the STEM Grant Program; and making an appropriation.

SB 254 establishes a new STEM Grant Program under Pennsylvania's Public School Code, enabling eligible public school educators to teach science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) subjects at nonpublic schools (including private and charter schools) during times when they are not teaching at their public school. Participating nonpublic schools will be reimbursed for the educators' compensation, calculated as the educator's hourly wage multiplied by hours taught and then multiplied by 1.25 to account for preparation time. The program is funded by a $1,000,000 state appropriation, with the Department of Education selecting an administrator to manage applications and distribute funds. Nonpublic schools must submit annual reports on program implementation, including student participation and outcomes.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill creates new state appropriation for STEM grant program reimbursement, directly increasing public education funding via budget allocation.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates STEM Grant Program funding educators to teach in nonpublic schools, expanding STEM access and supporting educators through reimbursement for curriculum delivery.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill establishes STEM grant program explicitly including technology instruction, directly funding tech education expansion in schools.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Teachers

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Jan 22, 2025

SR 8: A Resolution urging the Governor to develop a comprehensive legislative plan to improve basic education in the public schools of this Commonwealth and to establish an advisory commission to study and make specific recommendations for components of the plan.

This resolution (SR 8) urges the Governor to create a comprehensive plan to improve public school funding and education quality in the Commonwealth. It specifically calls for establishing an advisory commission composed of parents, teachers, school administrators, business leaders, higher education representatives, and legislators. The commission would study key issues like equitable funding sources, necessary educational programs and teacher-student ratios, the Department of Education's role in financially struggling districts, and potential changes to school code. The resolution does not create new laws but requests the Governor take these steps to address current budget challenges affecting public schools.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill explicitly urges development of comprehensive education funding plan with focus on equitable budget allocation and public school resource improvements, aligning with support indicators for public service funding.85% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill explicitly urges Governor to create comprehensive plan improving public school funding/quality and establishes advisory commission with educators/stakeholders to address educational components.95% confidence

Sub-Topics School Funding Teachers

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