Education (K-12 Education)

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

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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 Mar 6, 2025

HB 827: 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 Cross-age Tutoring Program.

HB 827 creates a state-mandated Cross-age Tutoring Program within Pennsylvania's public schools. It requires the Department of Education to publish evidence-based guidelines enabling 11th and 12th grade students (under teacher supervision) to volunteer as tutors for younger students. The program must include tutor qualifications, tutee eligibility, academic credits for tutors, training, and session structure, while ensuring tutoring supplements - rather than replaces - existing instructional services. This directly affects all Pennsylvania public school entities (districts, charter schools, etc.) and students in grades 11-12 who participate as tutors or receive tutoring.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationHB 827 mandates a state-supported cross-age tutoring program in public schools, providing academic credits for tutors and evidence-based guidelines to enhance student learning opportunities without replacing existing instruction.95% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education Teachers

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Jan 27, 2025

HB 342: 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 mindfulness techniques.

HB 342 would require all Pennsylvania public schools (including charter and cyber schools) and qualifying nonpublic schools to provide 15 minutes daily of mindfulness instruction for students in kindergarten through grade 12. The bill mandates that schools adopt policies for this instruction, defines "mindfulness" as present-moment awareness of body, mind, and feelings, and explicitly prohibits religious content. The Pennsylvania Department of Education must develop and distribute model policies, curricula, and best-practice guidelines for schools to use. This bill directly affects all K-12 students and school entities across the state.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates daily mindfulness instruction in K-12 curriculum, expanding student program offerings without restricting content or funding.95% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education Student Health

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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 · 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 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 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 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 · 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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