Education

passed · Pennsylvania · Senate Jul 17, 2025

SB 878: 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.

SB 878 converts Pennsylvania's temporary "Cosmetology Training Through Career and Technical Center Pilot Program" into a permanent state program under the Public School Code. It requires participating career and technical centers (CTCs) and high schools to annually report training data to the State Board of Cosmetology. Existing rules, contracts, and agreements established during the pilot phase remain in effect under the permanent program. The bill directly affects CTCs and secondary schools offering cosmetology training through career and technical education programs.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationConverts temporary cosmetology training program to permanent, ensuring continued educational access in career and technical centers without funding cuts or restrictions.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Career & Technical Education

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Mar 3, 2025

HB 779: 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 Head Start Teacher Salary Supplement Pilot Program.

HB 779 establishes a three-year pilot program to increase salaries for Head Start teachers in Pennsylvania. It targets Head Start programs located in school districts with at least 20% poverty or census tracts with 80% or lower median poverty. The program calculates a salary supplement by comparing Head Start teachers' qualifications to public elementary school teachers in the same district, then provides funds to align their pay. The Department of Education will select participating programs, collect data, and report findings to the legislature after one year.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates state funds to increase Head Start teacher salaries in high-poverty districts, aligning pay with public school teachers and funding essential early education programs.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationEstablishes salary supplement for Head Start teachers in high-poverty districts, aligning pay with public school teachers to support educator compensation and retention.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill establishes salary supplement for Head Start teachers to align pay with public school teachers, directly increasing wages for workers in targeted districts.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Early Childhood K-12 Education Teachers

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Feb 3, 2025

SB 229: An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in school safety and security, establishing the Cell Phone Lockable Bag Pilot Program.

SB 229 establishes a pilot program in Pennsylvania schools to fund secure, lockable bags for students to store cell phones during school hours. Participating schools must adopt policies banning phone use (with medical exemptions for conditions like diabetes) and track mental health, bullying, violence, and academic metrics over two years. The program provides grants for bag purchases, requires geographic funding distribution, and mandates a final report to lawmakers by 2026. It directly affects public and private schools across Pennsylvania, excluding staff phone use during work. The pilot expires December 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationFunds lockable bags for phone storage, mandates school safety policies, tracks academic/mental health metrics, and provides grants to improve K-12 learning environments per bill summary.95% confidence ✗ TechnologyOpposes TechnologyBill mandates school-wide phone bans (with medical exemptions), restricting student technology access during school hours, directly limiting device use without privacy/security enhancements.90% confidence

Sub-Topics School Safety

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Mar 3, 2025

HB 772: An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in pupils and attendance, further providing for suspension and expulsion of pupils.

HB 772 amends Pennsylvania's Public School Code to update rules for suspending and expelling students. It directly affects public school students, particularly those under 8 years old in pre-kindergarten and elementary programs. The bill sets a 10-day limit for excluding students from in-person learning without a hearing and prohibits suspending or expelling children under 8 unless they pose an immediate threat of harm to others. These changes apply to all public schools and publicly funded pre-K programs across Pennsylvania.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationProtects young students from arbitrary suspensions by limiting exclusion periods and requiring hearings, advancing student welfare in K-12 discipline policies.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Early Childhood K-12 Education

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Jun 5, 2025

HB 1565: 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 instructions in firearm safety.

HB 1565 would amend Pennsylvania's Public School Code to require public schools to include firearm safety instruction as part of their curriculum. This bill directly affects Pennsylvania public school students and educators by mandating this new component in courses of study. The key provision requires schools to develop and implement age-appropriate firearm safety education within existing instructional frameworks. It does not address gun access or ownership but focuses on integrating safety knowledge into school programming. The bill is currently referred to the Education committee for further review.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates firearm safety curriculum addition, expanding educational content within school instruction per bill's explicit requirement.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum School Safety

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Sep 15, 2025

HB 1861: 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, further providing for firefighter and emergency service training.

HB 1861 allows Pennsylvania public school districts to offer firefighter and emergency medical services (EMS) training as credit-bearing courses for students aged 16 or older who are active members of a fire company or EMS agency. The bill specifies that courses must cover nationally recognized Firefighter I training or Pennsylvania-approved EMT training, as defined by existing state law. School districts may provide transportation and supervision for off-campus training but are not required to cover course fees or materials. This policy change directly affects high school students in emergency services groups and gives school districts the option to integrate these career-focused courses into their curriculum.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationAllows credit-bearing emergency services training as part of school curriculum, expanding educational program options for students aged 16+92% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum Higher Education K-12 Education

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Jan 22, 2025

HB 215: 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 professional librarian.

HB 215 requires every public school in Pennsylvania to employ at least one certified professional librarian. The bill amends the Public School Code of 1949 to mandate that each school must have a librarian certified under Pennsylvania law (24 Pa.C.S. § 9319). This directly affects all public schools statewide by establishing a new staffing requirement for library professionals. The provision takes effect 60 days after the bill is enacted, with no exemptions specified. The change applies uniformly to all public schools, regardless of size or location.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates certified librarians in all Pennsylvania public schools, enhancing student resource access and curriculum support per Public School Code amendment.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Libraries Student Health

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Feb 25, 2025

HB 727: 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, further providing for definitions, for Keystone Exams and graduation requirements and for special provisions applicable to the Keystone Exams, graduation requirements and alternative competency assessment; in district superintendents and assistant district superintendents, further providing for performance review; in professional employees, further providing for definitions; in pupils and attendance, further providing for assisting students experiencing education instability; in E-chievement Program, further providing for definitions; and, in educational tax credits, further providing for definitions.

This bill amends Pennsylvania's Public School Code to replace the Keystone Exams with the ACT test for high school graduation requirements in algebra I, literature, and biology, effective July 1, 2027. After that date, students must meet proficiency through the ACT or alternative pathways, including completing local coursework, scoring well on Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate exams, or providing evidence of postsecondary readiness. The bill updates definitions to include the ACT test and clarifies how students can demonstrate proficiency without taking the Keystone Exams. It directly affects Pennsylvania high school students and school districts responsible for implementing graduation requirements.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill replaces Keystone Exams with ACT and offers alternative pathways (AP/IB, coursework) for graduation, enhancing flexibility and college readiness in K-12 education.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum K-12 Education Testing & Assessment

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Mar 26, 2025

HR 146: A Resolution urging the Congress of the United States to fully cooperate with Federal efforts to eliminate the United States Department of Education, reaffirming Pennsylvania's sovereign authority over its educational system and recognizing the need for State-led education solutions to improve outcomes for Pennsylvania students.

This Pennsylvania House resolution (HR 146) urges Congress to cooperate with efforts to eliminate the U.S. Department of Education. It argues that education policy should be managed by states like Pennsylvania, citing federal funding mandates and claims that the Department has not improved student outcomes (referencing NAEP data). The resolution does not change any laws or funding but formally requests federal action to transfer education authority to states. It reaffirms Pennsylvania's constitutional duty to manage its public education system for 1.7 million students across 500 school districts.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationBill explicitly seeks to eliminate U.S. Department of Education and transfer authority to states, opposing federal oversight of education policy per its title and summary.95% confidence

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passed · Pennsylvania · House Jun 18, 2025

HB 1402: 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, providing for State certificate fee reduction and further providing for professional educator discipline fee .

HB 1402 reduces the maximum fee for reviewing teacher certification applications under Pennsylvania's Public School Code to $50. It also creates a special exemption for military service members, veterans, and their spouses, requiring them to pay no more than $10 for certification fees and $25 for professional discipline fees. These changes directly affect educators seeking or maintaining teaching credentials in Pennsylvania public schools. The bill modifies existing sections of the 1949 Public School Code to implement these specific fee caps and exemptions.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill reduces teacher certification fees to $50 and exempts military-affiliated educators from higher costs, directly supporting educators by lowering barriers to credentialing.90% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransBill explicitly exempts veterans/spouses from full teaching certification fees, reducing costs for employment in education - a direct employment support for veterans.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Teachers

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