Education

passed · Pennsylvania · House May 5, 2026

HR 437: A Resolution recognizing the month of April 2026 as "National Poetry Month" in Pennsylvania.

This bill is a House Resolution that formally recognizes April 2026 as "National Poetry Month" within Pennsylvania. It does not create new laws or change existing policies, but rather serves as an official statement of support for poetry and the literary arts. The resolution acknowledges the cultural and educational value of poetry, noting its role in education and community engagement. Sponsored by multiple legislators, it aims to honor the tradition of celebrating poetry during this designated month.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill recognizes poetry month, acknowledging educational value of poetry and literary arts in schools, though symbolic rather than substantive policy change75% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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passed · Pennsylvania · House May 5, 2026

HR 228: A Resolution designating July 31, 2025, as "Intern Day" in Pennsylvania.

This resolution designates July 31, 2025, as "Intern Day" in Pennsylvania to recognize the value of internships for students, educational institutions, and employers. It aims to raise awareness about work-based learning opportunities that connect classroom education with workplace skills, aligning with national observances. The bill does not create new laws or funding but symbolically highlights Pennsylvania’s commitment to supporting internships as part of economic development. It directly affects students seeking career experience, career and technical centers, and businesses offering internships.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationPromotes internships as work-based learning connecting classroom education to workplace skills, raising awareness for student and institutional benefit. Symbolic endorsement of educational opportunities without funding.80% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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passed · Pennsylvania · House Dec 22, 2025

HB 1768: An Act establishing the Local Food Purchasing Incentive Grant Program, the Keystone Producer Grant Program, the Keystone Assistance Grant Program and the Keystone Fresh Farm to School Account; and imposing duties on the Department of Education and the Department of Agriculture.

HB 1768 establishes four new grant programs to support Pennsylvania's local food system. It provides incentives for schools and institutions to purchase local food (Local Food Purchasing Incentive Grant), offers financial assistance to farmers for production improvements (Keystone Producer Grant), supports food distribution networks (Keystone Assistance Grant), and funds school meal programs sourcing from local farms (Keystone Fresh Farm to School Account). The Department of Agriculture and Department of Education would administer these programs and manage the grant allocations. The bill directly affects Pennsylvania farmers, schools, food distributors, and local food businesses by creating new funding mechanisms to strengthen regional food systems.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allocates state funds via new grant programs (Local Food Purchasing, Keystone Producer, etc.) for agricultural support, increasing government spending on food system initiatives.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill creates Keystone Fresh Farm to School Account funding school meal programs sourcing local farms, directly supporting student nutrition and access within K-12 education system.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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signed · Pennsylvania · House Oct 27, 2025

HB 1405: 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 career and technical instructional certificate.

HB 1405 amends Pennsylvania's Public School Code to create new pathways for veterans to become career and technical teachers in public schools. It allows veterans who served at least 8,000 hours (four years full-time) in an occupation they will teach to qualify for a Career and Technical Intern Certificate or Career and Technical Instructional I Certificate, bypassing some standard certification requirements. The bill specifically defines "veteran" as someone discharged under honorable conditions from U.S. Armed Forces, including National Guard or reserves. This directly affects veterans seeking teaching roles in career and technical education programs across Pennsylvania's public schools.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates alternative certification for veterans in career/tech teaching, expanding teacher workforce access to support K-12 education95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransCreates streamlined certification for veterans to become teachers, advancing employment opportunities through targeted pathway in education sector.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

passed · Pennsylvania · House Jul 22, 2025

HB 1407: 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 instructional certificate grade spans and age levels and duties of department and providing for instructional certificate grade spans and age levels; and abrogating a regulation .

HB 1407 updates Pennsylvania's teacher certification rules, effective July 1, 2027. It establishes new grade spans for certificates: "Primary" (pre-K through grade 6), "Secondary" (grades 7-12), and "Specialized" (pre-K through grade 12). Current teachers with early childhood certificates can add grades 5-6 by passing an assessment or earning continuing education credits, while those with elementary/middle certificates can expand to grades 7-12 using similar pathways. The bill also requires teacher preparation programs to adjust coursework and field placements for early childhood certification, and abrogates outdated regulations inconsistent with these changes.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationUpdates teacher certification rules to expand grade spans and provide pathways for educators, strengthening teacher qualifications and flexibility within K-12 education framework.92% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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passed · Pennsylvania · House Jul 17, 2025

HB 1627: An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in career and technical education, further providing for Cosmetology Training Through Career and Technical Center Pilot Program.

This bill converts an existing cosmetology training pilot program at career and technical centers (CTCs) into a permanent program under Pennsylvania's Public School Code. It requires participating CTCs and secondary schools to submit annual reports to the State Board of Cosmetology on training metrics. The legislation formalizes ongoing operations from the pilot phase, ensuring existing contracts, rules, and agreements remain valid without change. It directly affects career centers and schools offering cosmetology training within the state's public education system.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationFormalizes permanent cosmetology training program in career centers, expanding educational access within CTE pathways without restrictions.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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passed · Pennsylvania · House Jul 17, 2025

HB 1626: An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in career and technical education, further providing for Barber Training Through Career and Technical Center Pilot Program.

HB 1626 establishes a pilot program allowing career and technical centers (CTCs) and secondary schools in Pennsylvania to offer barber training under the State Board of Barber Examiners. The bill requires participating schools to report student and program data annually by June 30 through 2025. It specifies the pilot program expires three years after enactment (2025) but allows conversion to a permanent program without disrupting existing contracts or rules established during the pilot. This directly affects CTCs and schools participating in barber training, creating a structured pathway for students seeking barbering credentials.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationEstablishes new career training program in CTE, expanding student educational pathways within K-12 system without restricting access or funding.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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signed · Pennsylvania · House Jul 7, 2025

HB 354: An Act providing for "What Is Your Pennsylvania Story" guidelines for school entities; and imposing duties on the Department of Education.

HB 354 requires Pennsylvania school entities to implement "What Is Your Pennsylvania Story" guidelines, a program designed to collect and share student and community narratives about Pennsylvania's history and culture. The bill directly affects all public and nonpublic schools, including charter schools, by mandating participation in this storytelling initiative. The Department of Education must develop and enforce these guidelines, including standards for content and submission processes. The bill became law on July 7, 2025, after receiving final approval from the governor.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates a storytelling program about Pennsylvania's history/culture for all schools, enhancing student engagement with local history as part of educational programming.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

passed · Pennsylvania · House Jun 24, 2025

HB 1403: 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 program of continuing professional and paraprofessional education.

HB 1403 modifies Pennsylvania's teacher certification rules to make it easier for educators between jobs to maintain their licenses. It creates "inactive certification" for teachers not employed by a school district, allowing them to reactivate their license by either completing 30 hours of professional development within 18 months or securing a job offer that guarantees 30 hours of training during their first two years. The bill directly affects currently licensed teachers who are not actively teaching but wish to preserve their certification status. Key provisions include eliminating cost for inactive status and establishing two clear pathways to reactivation, with specific guidelines for schools to follow. The changes take effect 60 days after enactment.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates inactive certification allowing teachers to maintain licenses via professional development, supporting educator retention and mobility without employment.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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passed · Pennsylvania · House Jun 24, 2025

HB 1404: 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 certificates qualifying persons to teach, for standard employment application, for career and technical instructional certificate and for postbaccalaureate certification; and abrogating regulations.

HB 1404 amends Pennsylvania's teacher certification rules to create new pathways for career-changers and technical educators. It establishes a "Career and Technical Second Career Certificate" valid for up to five years while completing 18 semester hours in an approved program, and adds "Career and Technical Intern" and "Career and Technical Instructional" certificates for those with occupational experience. The bill replaces outdated regulations (22 Pa. Code Ch. 49) and requires postbaccalaureate programs to offer flexible training for candidates with bachelor's degrees in relevant fields. These changes directly affect individuals seeking teaching roles in career and technical education programs who lack traditional teaching credentials.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates new teacher certification pathways (Career and Technical certificates) for career-changers and technical educators, expanding recruitment options to strengthen K-12 teacher workforce.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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