Education

in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Feb 20, 2025

SB 259: An Act providing for standards for carbon monoxide alarms in schools; and imposing penalties.

SB 259 requires all public and nonpublic schools in Pennsylvania that use fossil fuel-based heating (like gas or oil) or have attached garages to install and maintain safety-approved carbon monoxide alarms in every classroom on the same level as those heat sources. Schools must meet specific safety standards for the alarms, such as being certified to ANSI/UL standards or clearly distinguishing CO alerts from smoke alarms. The bill mandates installation within 18 months of the law’s effective date and requires schools to cover maintenance, battery replacements, or repairs. Failure to comply results in a $50 fine for willful non-compliance.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates CO alarm safety standards in schools, improving infrastructure for student/staff safety as part of educational environment90% confidence

Sub-Topics School Safety

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Jul 14, 2025

SB 929: A Joint Resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, providing for expiration of authority to levy or collect real property taxes.

SB 929 proposes a constitutional amendment to end school districts' authority to levy real property taxes after June 30, 2029. It directly affects Pennsylvania school districts, requiring the state to replace their lost property tax revenue through new state or local income, sales, or service taxes. The bill mandates that the General Assembly annually fund school districts at levels matching their pre-2029 property tax collections, depositing new tax revenue into a dedicated "Stabilization of Education Fund" exclusively for school support. It explicitly prohibits any future real property taxes and prevents diversion of funds from the stabilization account.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill mandates replacement of school property taxes with state/local income/sales taxes to maintain funding, directly restructuring tax policy for fiscal management.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates state to replace lost property tax revenue with equivalent annual funding, preventing defunding of school districts while shifting tax authority.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Property Tax Revenue School Funding

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Jan 27, 2025

HB 332: 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 media literacy education.

HB 332 requires Pennsylvania public schools (K-12) to incorporate media literacy education into their curriculum starting the school year after the law takes effect. The state Department of Education must develop an age-appropriate model curriculum within six months, covering skills like identifying bias, recognizing misinformation, understanding media influence, and evaluating messages. School districts must adopt this curriculum, and the state will provide free resources and teacher training through public websites. This law directly affects all Pennsylvania public school students and educators by mandating concrete media literacy instruction.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates media literacy curriculum integration for K-12, enhancing student critical thinking and media evaluation skills per bill requirements.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum K-12 Education Teachers

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Feb 13, 2025

SB 254: An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, providing for the STEM Grant Program; and making an appropriation.

SB 254 establishes a new STEM Grant Program under Pennsylvania's Public School Code, enabling eligible public school educators to teach science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) subjects at nonpublic schools (including private and charter schools) during times when they are not teaching at their public school. Participating nonpublic schools will be reimbursed for the educators' compensation, calculated as the educator's hourly wage multiplied by hours taught and then multiplied by 1.25 to account for preparation time. The program is funded by a $1,000,000 state appropriation, with the Department of Education selecting an administrator to manage applications and distribute funds. Nonpublic schools must submit annual reports on program implementation, including student participation and outcomes.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill creates new state appropriation for STEM grant program reimbursement, directly increasing public education funding via budget allocation.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates STEM Grant Program funding educators to teach in nonpublic schools, expanding STEM access and supporting educators through reimbursement for curriculum delivery.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill establishes STEM grant program explicitly including technology instruction, directly funding tech education expansion in schools.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Teachers

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Jan 28, 2025

HB 389: An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, establishing the New Nursing Faculty Grant Program; providing for duties of the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency; and making an appropriation.

HB 389 establishes the New Nursing Faculty Grant Program to support nursing education in Pennsylvania. It provides $10,000 grants to eligible nursing faculty members at accredited medical colleges who are PA residents, employed full-time (or have a pending offer), and have no more than three years of experience. The Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) will administer the program, prioritizing positions historically difficult to fill, with applications submitted by nursing program deans. Grants cover professional expenses and aim to increase enrollment capacity at nursing programs.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allocates $10,000 grants via appropriation for nursing faculty program, directly funding a public education initiative through state budget.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill provides $10,000 grants to nursing faculty at medical colleges for higher education staffing, directly funding faculty recruitment to strengthen nursing education programs.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill establishes nursing faculty grants to address staffing shortages in healthcare education, directly funding workforce development for medical professionals per bill summary.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Feb 20, 2025

HB 653: 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, providing for panic alerts.

HB 653, known as Alyssa's Law, requires all Pennsylvania public school buildings (including elementary, middle, and high school campuses) to install silent panic alert systems. These systems must be manually activated via devices like buttons or apps and immediately send emergency alerts directly to designated local law enforcement responders during security threats like active shooters or lockdowns. The law defines "panic alerts" as silent notifications for life-threatening emergencies and specifies that the alert must link to first responders on the school's campus. This mandate applies to all buildings used for instruction during school hours, replacing vague prior security language with a concrete equipment requirement.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates silent panic alert systems in all public schools for safety during emergencies, directly protecting educational environments under school safety policy.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education K-12 Education School Safety

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Feb 20, 2025

HB 682: 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 air conditioning in student-occupied areas.

HB 682 requires all Pennsylvania public school entities (including districts, charter schools, and career schools) to install functioning air conditioning in every student-occupied area - like classrooms, cafeterias, and libraries - by the start of the 2028-2029 school year. Schools unable to meet this deadline must submit a compliance plan to the Department of Education by August 1, 2028. Until AC is installed, schools must implement a temperature control plan ensuring indoor temperatures stay between 72°F and 79°F when heating isn't needed, and close areas if temperatures exceed 88°F. This plan must be updated annually and submitted to the Department of Education until installation is complete. The bill directly affects all public schools in Pennsylvania, aiming to improve student comfort and safety during hot weather.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates AC installation in student areas to improve learning environments, directly enhancing school infrastructure per education topic definition.90% confidence

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Jul 21, 2025

HB 1748: An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, providing for the Pilot Program for Homeless Youth in Higher Education.

HB 1748 amends Pennsylvania's Public School Code to establish a Pilot Program supporting homeless youth pursuing higher education. The bill directly affects homeless youth in Pennsylvania who are seeking or enrolled in post-secondary education programs. Key provisions include providing state funding for supportive services like housing assistance, counseling, and academic support through designated educational institutions. The program aims to address barriers to higher education access for this vulnerable population by creating a structured, state-supported pathway. The bill was recently referred to the Education committee for further review.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationEstablishes state-funded pilot program providing housing, counseling, and academic support for homeless youth pursuing higher education, directly expanding access to post-secondary opportunities.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill explicitly funds housing assistance for homeless youth in higher education, directly addressing homelessness through housing support services as part of its pilot program.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Homelessness

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Oct 29, 2025

HB 2001: An Act amending Title 24 (Education) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, providing for incarcerated students; and abrogating a regulation.

HB 2001 amends Pennsylvania's education laws to establish educational opportunities for students incarcerated in state facilities. It directly affects incarcerated individuals in Pennsylvania prisons by requiring educational programming access. The bill removes an existing regulation (abrogating it) to enable this change, though specific program details aren't outlined in the title. This focuses on policy changes to integrate incarcerated students into the state's education framework.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill provides educational access for incarcerated students in state facilities, directly supporting rehabilitation programs to reduce recidivism per criminal justice reform indicators.85% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands educational access for incarcerated students by requiring programming in state facilities, removing a barrier to access.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Feb 4, 2025

HB 480: An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in charter schools, providing for full-time cyber education program offered by school district.

HB 480 allows Pennsylvania school districts to offer full-time cyber education programs directly to students. If a student enrolls in their district's cyber program, they pay no extra fees beyond standard district charges. However, if they choose a cyber charter school instead, parents must pay monthly tuition (based on state funding formulas), and the student won't count toward their district's enrollment for funding purposes. This bill directly affects students and families in districts that provide these cyber programs, clarifying cost responsibilities and funding impacts.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationEnables school districts to offer full-time cyber education without extra fees, expanding access to public school options and reducing financial barriers for families.90% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyEnables school districts to offer full-time cyber education programs, expanding access to technology-based learning without extra fees for district programs, supporting educational technology adoption.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education School Choice

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