Education

in committee · Pennsylvania · House Apr 17, 2025

HB 1265: 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.

HB 1265 revises Pennsylvania's teacher certification rules under the Public School Code, effective after December 31, 2027. It establishes four new certificate types with defined grade spans: Early Childhood (pre-K to grade 3), Elementary/Middle (K-8 with subject limits in upper grades), Middle/Secondary (grades 6-12), and Specialized Areas (pre-K to grade 12). Existing certificates remain valid, and current teacher preparation program students enrolled before December 31, 2025, may complete under prior rules. The bill directly affects public school teachers, certification programs, and the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill standardizes teacher certification with clear grade spans, enhancing educator qualifications under K-12 education without restrictions or funding cuts.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Early Childhood K-12 Education Teachers

Track

in committee · Pennsylvania · House Feb 20, 2025

HB 683: An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in district superintendents and assistant district superintendents, further providing for duties of superintendents.

HB 683 amends Pennsylvania's Public School Code to set specific student-to-teacher ratio limits for public school classes. It requires superintendents to maintain ratios of 24:1 (max 29 students) in kindergarten, 24:1 (max 30 students) in grades 1-3, 25:1 (max 35 students) in grades 4-6, and 24:1 (max 35 students) in grades 7-12. If ratios exceed these limits, superintendents must notify parents within 10 days and submit a reduction plan to the Department of Education within 30 days. The bill directly affects Pennsylvania public school districts and their superintendents, with exemptions for specialized classes like music or physical education.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates specific student-teacher ratios (e.g., 24:1 max) to reduce class sizes across grades, requiring superintendent accountability for exceeding limits, directly advancing K-12 educational quality.95% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education Teachers

Track

in committee · Pennsylvania · House Jan 16, 2025

HB 192: An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in intermediate units, repealing provisions relating to psychological services; in professional employees, further providing for definitions and providing for school social workers; and, in school health services, further providing for health services and providing for school counselors, school psychologists, school social workers and school nurses.

HB 192 repeals outdated language requiring psychological services to be provided on school premises for nonpublic school students. It updates the definition of "professional employees" to explicitly include school social workers, counselors, psychologists, and nurses in Pennsylvania schools. The bill mandates that school social workers must hold a new educational specialist certificate issued by the Department of Education, which must be created within 60 days. Additionally, it adds rules requiring schools to share student health records when students transfer and to retain those records for at least two years after a student leaves.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationUpdates definitions to explicitly include school social workers/counselors/psychologists/nurses and mandates new certification standards, strengthening professional support staff qualifications in schools.92% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands mental health roles in schools by mandating certified school psychologists/social workers and updating health service definitions to include these professionals.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Health

Track

in committee · Pennsylvania · House Nov 18, 2025

HB 1043: 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, further providing for definitions, for possession and use of asthma inhalers and epinephrine auto-injectors, for school access to emergency epinephrine and for administration of epinephrine auto-injectors by school bus drivers and school crossing guards.

HB 1043 amends Pennsylvania's Public School Code to expand access to emergency allergy and asthma treatments in schools. The bill specifically allows school staff, including bus drivers and crossing guards, to possess, use, and administer epinephrine auto-injectors (like EpiPens) and asthma inhalers for students in medical emergencies. It updates definitions and procedures to ensure authorized personnel can act quickly during allergic reactions or asthma attacks without requiring individual physician orders each time. This directly affects students with life-threatening allergies or asthma and school staff who may need to provide immediate care.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands emergency medical access for students in schools, ensuring safety during asthma/allergy reactions, directly supporting student educational access and safety.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands emergency allergy/asthma treatment access in schools for students, allowing staff to administer EpiPens without individual prescriptions, improving immediate healthcare access during emergencies.90% confidence

Sub-Topics School Safety School Transportation Student Health

Track

signed · Pennsylvania · Senate May 13, 2026

SB 375: 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, repealing provisions relating to CPR instruction; in school safety and security, further providing for School Safety and Security Grant Program; and, in school health services, further providing for definitions, repealing provisions relating to automatic external defibrillators, providing for AED and CPR instruction and procedure, establishing the Automated External Defibrillator Program and providing for availability and specifications of automated external defibrillators.

SB 375 repeals a requirement that schools provide cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training for staff every three years. Instead, it mandates that Pennsylvania schools obtain and maintain automated external defibrillators (AEDs) - heart rhythm shock devices - by requiring 2.5% of annual school safety funding to be used for purchasing AEDs and related training. The bill establishes an AED program requiring school staff to complete AED and CPR training through approved organizations like the American Heart Association, and it defines AEDs as portable devices that restore heart rhythm during cardiac arrest. This law directly affects all public and nonpublic schools in Pennsylvania, shifting focus from mandatory staff CPR training to AED availability and use.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates AEDs and staff training for school safety, enhancing health protocols within education infrastructure per bill's focus on school safety and health services.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates AED/CPR training for school staff, directly enhancing workplace safety - a core Labor & Employment focus.90% confidence

Sub-Topics School Safety Professional Licensing

passed · Pennsylvania · Senate Apr 21, 2026

SB 998: An Act providing for the Nurse Education Capacity Expansion Grant Program; and imposing duties on the Department of Community and Economic Development.

SB 998 would create a grant program to fund expansions of nursing education programs at colleges and universities. It requires the Department of Community and Economic Development to administer grants for institutions aiming to increase nursing program capacity, directly affecting nursing schools and future nursing students. Key provisions include establishing grant criteria, application processes, and reporting requirements for funded programs. The bill is currently pending in the Appropriations committee after committee review.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates state grant program funding nursing education expansions, increasing public service spending under budget appropriations.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationFunds expansion of nursing education programs at colleges/universities, directly increasing higher education capacity and access through grant programs.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareFunds nursing education expansions to increase healthcare workforce capacity, directly strengthening healthcare service delivery through grant program for nursing programs.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce

Track

in committee · Pennsylvania · House Mar 13, 2025

HB 891: An Act amending the act of March 4, 1971 (P.L.6, No.2), known as the Tax Reform Code of 1971, providing for Keystone State Apprenticeship Tax Credit; establishing the Keystone State Apprenticeship Tax Credit Program; and imposing duties on the Department of Labor and Industry.

HB 891 creates the Keystone State Apprenticeship Tax Credit Program, providing tax incentives to Pennsylvania businesses that hire apprentices. It directly affects employers participating in approved apprenticeship programs, with preference given to those training disadvantaged youth (low-income individuals aged 16-24) and businesses in key sectors like clean energy, healthcare, and technology. The program allocates up to $10 million annually in tax credits from 2025 to 2030, administered by the Department of Labor and Industry, which will determine eligibility and prioritize employers based on specific criteria like apprentice graduation rates and program novelty. Businesses must register apprenticeship agreements with the department to qualify for the credit.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates tax credit program for apprenticeship hiring, providing incentives to businesses and allocating $10M annually through tax credits, directly advancing tax policy for workforce development.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationProvides tax incentives for apprenticeships training disadvantaged youth (16-24), expanding educational access for low-income individuals in key sectors.65% confidence ✓ EnergySupports EnergyBill prioritizes clean energy businesses for tax credits, directly advancing renewable energy sector growth through incentives in key sectors.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentCreates tax credits for businesses hiring apprentices, prioritizing disadvantaged youth and key sectors, directly advancing workforce development and employment opportunities.92% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill explicitly prioritizes technology businesses for tax credits in apprenticeship programs, directly funding tech sector workforce development.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Tax Credits Tax Incentives Renewable Energy Apprenticeships

Track

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

in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate May 2, 2025

SB 717: An Act amending the act of March 4, 1971 (P.L.6, No.2), known as the Tax Reform Code of 1971, in sales and use tax, further providing for exclusions from tax.

SB 717 amends Pennsylvania's Tax Reform Code to adjust sales and use tax exclusions for consumers. The bill updates an existing sales tax exclusion for personal computers, tablets, and related devices with a sales price of up to $1,500 by setting an annual tax-free period from the first to the third Saturday in August. It also creates a new sales tax exclusion for various school supplies, art supplies, and instructional materials, provided each item costs $50 or less. These exclusions apply to individual purchasers for nonbusiness use during the specified August timeframe, effectively establishing an annual sales tax holiday for these items.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates tax exclusions for personal computers and school supplies under $50, providing direct tax relief to consumers and reducing their tax burden on essential items.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates tax exemptions for school supplies, art materials, and devices under $50, reducing costs for educational resources and improving access to classroom materials.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Sales Tax Curriculum

Track

in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Mar 17, 2025

SB 459: An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, establishing the Statewide Imagination Library Program and the Imagination Library of Pennsylvania Restricted Account; and imposing duties on the Department of Education.

SB 459 establishes Pennsylvania's Statewide Imagination Library Program, providing free monthly age-appropriate books to children under five years old in the state. The program is funded through a dedicated state account (using state funds, gifts, and federal dollars) and requires local partners to match funding dollar-for-dollar, with waivers possible for financial hardship. The Department of Education administers the program, coordinating with a nonprofit partner to manage book distribution, local program development, and public awareness. This directly affects eligible children and local community organizations participating in the initiative.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationEstablishes free book program for children under five, enhancing early literacy access and funding through state/federal resources, directly advancing educational access for young learners.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Libraries

Track