Education

in committee · Pennsylvania · House Mar 4, 2025

HB 806: An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, providing for Pennsylvania student journalism protection.

HB 806 protects student journalists in Pennsylvania public and private schools by prohibiting school officials from reviewing or censoring school-sponsored media content before publication (prior restraint). It requires schools to adopt policies by the 2025-2026 school year, granting student editors final approval authority over content while banning censorship except for legally unprotected speech like libel, obscenity, or material disruption. The bill defines key terms (e.g., "student journalist," "student editor") and ensures student-media advisors cannot be punished for supporting protected student expression. It directly affects all Pennsylvania school entities, including districts, charter schools, and private schools with journalism programs.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationProtects student journalism freedom in schools, advancing educational expression rights and preventing censorship of student media content.95% confidence

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House May 21, 2025

HB 1489: An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, establishing the Lifeline Scholarship Program and the Lifeline Scholarship Fund; and conferring powers and imposing duties on the State Treasury and Auditor General.

HB 1489 establishes the Lifeline Scholarship Program, enabling eligible Pennsylvania students to receive financial assistance for tuition and fees at participating nonpublic schools. To qualify, students must be Pennsylvania residents, not have a high school diploma, and meet income criteria (household income below 350% of the federal poverty level) or reside within a low-achieving school's attendance boundary. The State Treasury administers the Lifeline Scholarship Fund, allowing parents to apply for funds covering tuition, school-related fees, and special education services at qualifying nonprofit nonpublic schools. This program amends the Public School Code of 1949 to create a new funding mechanism for student enrollment in nonpublic schools.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates state-funded scholarship program for low-income students, allocating treasury resources to support education access and fiscal responsibility for eligible families.85% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationEstablishes state-funded scholarships for low-income students to attend nonpublic schools, expanding educational access and financial support for K-12 education.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education K-12 Education Student Financial Aid

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Apr 30, 2025

HB 1354: An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in duties and powers of boards of school directors, further providing for school athletics, publications, and organizations.

HB 1354 requires Pennsylvania public school districts to allow private school students who reside in the district to participate in after-school sports, clubs, and other extracurricular activities if their private school does not offer the same activity and they meet all participation requirements. The law directly affects private school students seeking access to public school programs and public school districts managing extracurricular offerings. It mandates inclusion only when the private school does not provide equivalent opportunities, without changing funding or administrative requirements. The bill takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands educational access by mandating public school inclusion for private students in extracurriculars when private options are unavailable, directly advancing access to school programs.90% confidence

Sub-Topics School Choice

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passed · Pennsylvania · House Jun 25, 2025

HB 1445: An Act amending Title 40 (Insurance) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, providing for school-based services; and, in telemedicine, further providing for insurance coverage of telemedicine.

HB 1445 requires health insurers in Pennsylvania to cover medically necessary health services provided in schools - such as mental health care, behavioral health services, and speech therapy - without denying coverage solely because the service occurs in a school setting. It prohibits insurers from excluding coverage based on location (e.g., through "school setting" or "place of service" exclusions), applying to public, charter, cyber charter, and private schools. Exceptions allow denials if services are provided by unlicensed individuals, are not medically necessary per insurer policies, or conflict with existing legal obligations (like IEPs). This law directly affects students receiving school-based care, insurers, and school entities, ensuring coverage parity for services delivered on school premises.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRequires insurers to cover school-based health services (mental health, therapy) without location-based denials, enhancing student access to care and supporting educational well-being.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates insurance coverage for school-based mental health, behavioral health, and speech therapy services, prohibiting location-based exclusions to expand access to care.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Health Insurance Telehealth

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate May 5, 2025

SB 706: An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in educational tax credits, further providing for limitations.

Senate Bill 706 amends Pennsylvania's Public School Code of 1949, specifically addressing limitations on educational tax credits. The bill mandates that the department administering these credits must ensure they are approved equitably for contributions from business firms headquartered in each specified region of the Commonwealth. This includes regions like the northcentral, northeast, and southeast. Additionally, any approved tax credits for firms in one region that go unclaimed must be promptly reallocated to business firms in other regions of Pennsylvania.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill expands educational tax credit access for regional business contributions, increasing potential school funding through equitable approval mechanisms.90% confidence

Sub-Topics School Choice

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Feb 20, 2025

HB 667: An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in professional employees, providing for restrictions on administrative meetings during instructional time or planning periods.

HB 667 amends Pennsylvania's Public School Code to protect classroom teachers' instructional and planning time. It prohibits requiring teachers to attend administrative meetings during teaching hours unless covered by another qualified teacher or substitute. If meetings occur during a teacher's designated planning period (time for lesson prep, parent communication, or grading), schools must offer compensatory time or replace the diverted time. The bill applies to all public school districts, joint districts, intermediate units, and career schools, taking effect 60 days after enactment.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationProtects teachers' instructional/planning time from administrative disruptions, supporting educator effectiveness and school operations per bill's explicit language.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProtects teachers' instructional time and planning periods from administrative disruptions, aligning with workplace safety and employment standards by preventing forced meeting attendance during work hours.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Teachers Labor Standards

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passed · Pennsylvania · House May 1, 2026

HB 830: An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in student supports, further providing for policy relating to bullying.

This bill requires Pennsylvania public schools to adopt or update a bullying policy that includes clear disciplinary consequences for bullying incidents and designates a staff member to handle reports. Schools must notify parents within five days of a bullying or cyberbullying incident while following federal privacy laws. The policy may also include prevention and intervention programs, and the bill clarifies that bullying involves repeated, severe acts in a school setting that disrupt education or create a threatening environment. Cyberbullying is specifically defined as bullying occurring via electronic devices during school hours.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates stronger bullying policies with disciplinary consequences and parent notification in public schools, directly enhancing student safety and educational access per topic description.90% confidence

Sub-Topics School Safety Student Health

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Mar 24, 2025

HB 1005: An Act repealing the act of July 13, 1953 (P.L.377, No.85), known as the Use and Storage Tax Act.

HB 1005 would repeal Pennsylvania's Use and Storage Tax Act of 1953, which imposed a tax on the use and storage of physical goods (like furniture, electronics, or vehicles) within the state. This law required businesses selling such goods to register, collect the tax from customers, and remit it to the state, with the revenue funding public schools. The bill would eliminate this tax obligation for businesses and remove the administrative requirements for collecting and reporting the tax. The repeal directly affects businesses that previously collected this tax and the public school funding mechanism tied to it.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesRepealing tax funding public schools defunds essential education programs, directly reducing state revenue allocated to public education.95% confidence ✗ EducationOpposes EducationRepealing the tax funding public schools removes dedicated revenue, directly defunding K-12 education without alternative funding mechanisms.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Sales Tax School Funding

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Jul 10, 2025

SB 930: An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in student supports, further providing for definitions; in school safety and security, further providing for definitions, for School Safety and Security Committee, for school safety and security assessment providers, for School Safety and Security Grant Program, for school safety and security coordinator, for school safety and security training and for reporting and memorandum of understanding; in school security, further providing for training, for school resource officers, for school security guards and for duties of commission; in Safe2Say Program, further providing for intent, for definitions, for Safe2Say Program and for annual report; in threat assessment, further providing for definitions, for threat assessment teams and for threat assessment guidelines, training and information materials; and making editorial changes.

SB 930 amends Pennsylvania's Public School Code to strengthen school safety and security systems. It establishes a School Safety and Security Committee, requires schools to appoint coordinators for safety planning, and mandates annual training for staff on topics like cyber safety, active shooter drills, and mental health awareness. The bill creates a grant program funding mental health services and cyber security measures (e.g., preventing data breaches), with funds restricted to these purposes. Schools must report safety meeting attendance and security personnel details annually, starting in 2026, to their boards of directors. These changes directly affect public school districts, charter schools, and their administrators.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates School Safety Grant Program funding mental health and cyber security services, allocating state funds for public safety programs.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates grant program for mental health/cybersecurity services and mandates safety training, strengthening school safety infrastructure under education framework.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCreates grant program funding mental health services and mental health awareness training in schools, directly advancing healthcare access through school-based mental health initiatives.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyMandates cyber safety training and funds cybersecurity measures (e.g., preventing data breaches) to protect student data within school systems.90% confidence

Sub-Topics School Safety Student Health Testing & Assessment

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Jan 16, 2025

HB 130: A Joint Resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, further providing for the maintenance and support of public education.

HB 130 proposes a constitutional amendment requiring Pennsylvania to fund public education by allocating state resources directly to individual students, allowing them to attend schools that meet their needs. This would shift funding from the current district-based system to a per-student allocation model, mandating that education spending follow students to their chosen schools. The amendment also requires the state to maintain a thorough and efficient public education system. It would directly affect all public school students and the state's education funding structure.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesMandates per-student education funding allocation, requiring direct state resource commitment to maintain public education system.85% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationProposes per-student funding allocation to expand educational access and maintain a thorough, efficient public education system per constitutional amendment.95% confidence

Sub-Topics School Choice School Funding

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