SB 239 Pennsylvania Senate · 2025-2026 Regular Session

An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in preliminary provisions, providing for mandate waiver program.

SB 239 creates a formal process for Pennsylvania school entities (like districts, charter schools, and intermediate units) to request waivers from certain state education requirements. School boards must submit applications detailing which rules they seek to waive, the reasons, and supporting data; the Department of Education must approve or deny these within 30 days. The bill explicitly prohibits waivers for anti-discrimination laws, academic standards, student safety rules, and specific sections of the Public School Code (listed in Section 1(i)). This allows schools flexibility to improve programs or operations without changing core educational mandates or federal compliance requirements.
Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Feb 13, 2025 Last action Feb 13, 2025
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1
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Committee
1
Feb 13, 2025
Committee
Referred to Education
upper
1 primary · 8 co-sponsors

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