This bill modifies Pennsylvania's Public School Code to increase financial support for student teachers working in subject areas with staffing shortages. It establishes a new provision that adds a minimum grant of $5,000 to the existing Student Teacher Support Grant for eligible students who complete their teaching assignments in these specific shortage areas. The state agency responsible for the program will use departmental data to identify which subjects currently face shortages before distributing these additional funds. The changes become effective 60 days after the bill is passed.
This bill updates Pennsylvania's teacher certification laws to make it easier for educators from other states to get certified in the Commonwealth. It allows the Department of Education to issue a Pennsylvania teaching certificate to out-of-state applicants who already hold a valid license and have completed an approved educator preparation program. To qualify, these applicants must also pass subject matter competency tests and complete required field experience in Pennsylvania. The changes apply to public, private, and parochial schools and will take effect 60 days after the bill is signed into law.
This bill requires Pennsylvania schools to offer optional hunting and trapping education courses to students in grades six through twelve by July 1, 2027. The program must include firearm safety instruction taught by certified instructors, covering topics like safe handling and maintenance, while strictly prohibiting actual firearms or ammunition from entering school buildings. Parents can request to excuse their children from these classes without penalty, and completing the course satisfies the state's basic hunter-trapper education requirement for obtaining a hunting license.
SB 1340 amends Pennsylvania's Public School Code to require school districts to publish rules on their websites regarding home school students' participation in extracurricular activities, such as JROTC. It also mandates that school districts ensure JROTC programs are open to home school students who meet eligibility requirements. Additionally, the bill requires military families providing home instruction to notify their local school district within 30 days of starting.
HB 2544 updates Pennsylvania's Public School Code to establish a formal framework for negotiating compensation and benefits plans for school administrators, including principals and assistant principals. The bill requires school boards to meet with administrators in good faith to create written agreements covering salary schedules, fringe benefits, and performance evaluation processes. These agreements must remain in effect for at least one school year but no longer than five, and they include a nonbinding mediation step for resolving disputes before potential legal appeals. The legislation applies to all public school entities in the state and maintains existing restrictions on strikes while clarifying the definitions of administrative roles and employer responsibilities.
HB 2525 amends Pennsylvania's Institutional Assistance Grants Act to update definitions and procedures for grants given to students attending independent colleges. The bill removes old legislative findings and specific appropriation amounts, while establishing a new maximum grant limit of $400 per student. It also requires the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency to audit eligible institutions and publish annual reports on how the grant funds are used.
This bill modifies Pennsylvania's teacher certification rules and funding for a specific education grant program. It caps the fees charged for reviewing teacher certification applications at $50 and directs those funds to a state account used for recruiting educators. Additionally, the legislation allows the Department of Education to use up to $300,000 annually from existing funds to award grants under the Keystone Telepresence Education Grant Program. The bill also mandates a one-time transfer of approximately $1.4 million from a restricted fund to the same talent recruitment account. These changes directly affect teachers seeking state certification and the administration of the telepresence education initiative.
This bill updates Pennsylvania's Public School Code to clarify funding rules for cyber charter schools. It mandates that these schools cannot charge tuition to students who live in or outside the state, with one specific exception. Under this exception, a local school district does not have to pay the tuition for its own students if those students attend an outside cyber charter school instead of the district's own online program. To qualify for this exemption, the district's online program must meet specific standards set by the state department, such as offering in-person orientation, verifying residency, tracking attendance, providing technical support, and assigning case managers for special education needs. The changes will become effective 60 days after the bill is passed.
This bill designates May 17, 2026, as the "25th Anniversary of the Educational Improvement Tax Credit Program Day" in Pennsylvania. The resolution recognizes the program, which allows businesses to receive tax credits for donations to scholarship organizations that fund tuition for students in public and private schools. By formally acknowledging the program's 25-year history, the bill highlights its role in providing educational options for families across the state without changing any existing laws or policies.
This bill creates a grant program to help Pennsylvania school districts and career and technical schools update their educational materials. Eligible schools can apply for funding to buy digital platforms or printed curricula that include lesson plans, multimedia content, and tools for tracking student progress. The amount each school receives is calculated based on its student enrollment and the total state funding available for the program. To qualify, schools must receive a recommendation from their local occupational advisory committee and certify that the funds will be used for approved curriculum modernization.
