Education

in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Jan 22, 2025

SB 28: 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 Black history education.

SB 28 amends Pennsylvania's Public School Code to require the state Department of Education to develop and share age-appropriate resources for integrating Black history into school curricula. It directs the department to create these materials within three months of the law's effective date and post them online for all schools to use. The bill applies to every public school district, charter school, private school, and other school entities in Pennsylvania, but does not mandate specific curriculum changes - only that schools can access the state-provided resources. Schools may also use other approved materials to teach the history of the Black experience as part of required or elective courses.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates development of Black history curriculum resources, expanding educational content and promoting inclusive education in K-12 schools.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum K-12 Education School Choice

Track

signed · Pennsylvania · House Jun 29, 2026

HB 1877: 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 Pennsylvania Seal of Biliteracy.

HB 1877 creates a Pennsylvania Seal of Biliteracy to recognize high school students who achieve proficiency in English and another language. The bill requires public school districts to establish a process for awarding this seal to eligible students who meet specific language proficiency standards. It directly affects Pennsylvania public high school students who demonstrate biliteracy skills, providing a formal credential for their language abilities. The key mechanism is the addition of this seal program to the Public School Code, mandating school districts to implement it.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates Pennsylvania Seal of Biliteracy recognizing student language proficiency, enhancing student credentialing and educational access within K-12 curriculum standards.95% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education

in committee · Pennsylvania · House Mar 3, 2025

HB 769: An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in grounds and buildings, providing for physical space for school library or information center; and, in books, furniture and supplies, providing for school library collections.

HB 769 requires Pennsylvania public schools (excluding fully online cyber charters) to provide dedicated physical space for libraries or information centers and maintain a library collection of at least 1,000 items per grade served, including print and nonprint materials like audio-visual equipment, starting in the 2026-2027 school year. The State Board of Education will establish building standards for library spaces and review these requirements every ten years. School boards must design spaces following the State Board's guidance, and the Secretary of Education can deny approval for construction projects that fail to meet the standards. This bill amends the Public School Code to ensure schools have adequate library resources for student learning.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates dedicated library space and 1,000+ item collections per grade, enhancing school library infrastructure and resources per educational standards.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Libraries

Track

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

Sub-Topics Career & Technical Education

Track

in committee · Pennsylvania · House Dec 15, 2025

HB 1676: An Act establishing the Nursing Shortage Assistance Program; and imposing duties on the Department of Labor and Industry.

HB 1676 establishes Pennsylvania's Nursing Shortage Assistance Program, which provides state grants to "qualified nursing servicers" to help nursing students repay loans after graduation. The program requires partner hospitals to match state funds 1:1 for loan repayment and commit to hiring graduates, with grants only covering tuition expenses (not administrative costs). Nursing students working at participating hospitals may receive up to $10,000 annually or $30,000 total in loan repayment assistance. The Department of Labor and Industry administers the program, sets application rules, and reports annually on its effectiveness to the legislature.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationProvides loan repayment assistance to nursing students (higher education), directly supporting student financial burdens and workforce access in a specific educational program.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEstablishes nursing loan repayment grants to address workforce shortages, improving healthcare access and provider availability.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentFunds nursing student loan repayment to address workforce shortages, requiring hospital hiring commitments, directly supporting labor supply and employment in healthcare.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Student Financial Aid Healthcare Workforce

Track

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

Sub-Topics Career & Technical Education Teachers

Track

in committee · Pennsylvania · House May 21, 2025

HB 1474: An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in higher education accountability and transparency, providing for requirements for significant reduction of operations of State-related universities.

HB 1474 requires Pennsylvania's state-related universities (including Penn State, Pitt, Temple, and Lincoln University) to create detailed plans before closing branch campuses or significantly reducing operations. The bill mandates that universities submit plans including financial analysis, community impact studies, student impact reports, and access alternatives to the board, followed by a 90-day public comment period with at least three public hearings. Before any closure can proceed, the plan must be approved by the full General Assembly, not just the university board. This directly affects students, rural communities reliant on branch campuses, and local economies by adding legislative oversight to campus closures. The law applies to all state-related universities and their branch campuses starting with the 2025-2026 academic year.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates detailed plans with community impact studies and access alternatives before campus closures, protecting student access and preventing abrupt service reductions in higher education.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education

Track

passed · Pennsylvania · Senate May 13, 2025

SB 310: An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in high schools, providing for Free Application for Federal Student Aid.

Senate Bill 310 mandates that, beginning with the 2025-2026 school year, high school students in Pennsylvania's public, nonpublic, and private schools must file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) before graduating. Students or their parents/legal guardians can choose to opt out of filing the FAFSA by submitting a state-developed form to their school. Schools are responsible for providing this opt-out form and may exempt students if they cannot be reached and no FAFSA or opt-out form is submitted. The bill clarifies that schools do not require personal financial information from students or families, and any inadvertently obtained information is not a public record.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates FAFSA filing to expand college access, directly advancing educational access for students transitioning to higher education.95% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education Student Financial Aid

Track

in committee · Pennsylvania · House May 2, 2025

HB 1376: 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, providing for school-based health centers.

HB 1376 amends Pennsylvania's Public School Code to establish standards for school-based health centers in public, private, and parochial schools. It requires these centers to provide accessible care without denying services based on payment ability, insurance status, or health conditions, while coordinating with students' existing primary care providers. Centers must offer a full range of services with proper parental consent, minimize barriers to care, and maintain confidentiality per federal law. The bill also creates a statewide advisory council and a department liaison to oversee implementation and ensure centers align with student needs like age, demographics, and community resources.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill mandates accessible school health centers without financial/insurance barriers, directly enhancing educational access and student well-being per Public School Code amendment.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates non-discriminatory school-based health centers with full services, no denial based on payment/insurance, and confidentiality, expanding healthcare access for students.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Health Children's Health Primary Care

Track

passed · Pennsylvania · House Apr 17, 2026

HB 1706: 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, providing for student mental health awareness.

HB 1706 requires Pennsylvania schools to integrate student mental health awareness into existing health education standards and school operations. It mandates the State Board of Education to update health standards, the Department of Health and Education to develop public guidelines on mental health warning signs for students and families, and schools to notify students and parents twice yearly about local mental health services. The bill also requires school entities to report student absences or injuries in activities to student assistance programs and directs the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association to add mental health training to coach certification by the 2025-2026 school year. This bill directly affects all public, private, and parochial schools in Pennsylvania, their students, families, and athletic staff.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates mental health awareness integration into school health curriculum and services, enhancing student well-being support within education framework.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates mental health awareness integration in schools, updates health standards, and provides resources for students/families, directly supporting mental health services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Health

Track