Education (Higher Education)

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 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 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 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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passed · Pennsylvania · Senate Oct 8, 2025

SB 432: An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in the State System of Higher Education, providing for educational opportunities for foster and adopted children.

SB 432 amends Pennsylvania's Public School Code to create new educational pathways for foster and adopted children attending state universities and colleges. The bill requires public higher education institutions to develop and implement specific support programs, including academic advising and financial aid coordination, for eligible students who were in foster care or adopted. It directly affects current and future foster youth and adopted children pursuing higher education within Pennsylvania's public university system. Key provisions establish standardized support mechanisms to improve access and retention for this population in state-funded institutions.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates support programs (academic advising, financial aid) for foster/adopted youth in higher education, directly expanding access and resources for this vulnerable group.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Student Financial Aid

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Jan 22, 2025

SB 59: An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in community colleges, further providing for definitions, for powers and duties of State Board of Education and for degrees.

SB 59 clarifies Pennsylvania's definition of "community college" to explicitly include programs like career training, college-parallel courses, and credit courses for high school students. It grants the State Board of Education authority to set mandatory standards for community college facilities, curriculum, faculty qualifications, student enrollment, and degree requirements. The bill also requires the State Board to prescribe all types of diplomas and certificates awarded by community colleges and permits them to offer nursing bachelor's degrees to students with associate's in nursing. This directly affects community colleges and their students across Pennsylvania.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationClarifies community college definition to include career training/high school courses, mandates State Board standards for curriculum/faculty, and requires diploma/certificate prescriptions, expanding access and strengthening educational standards.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum Higher Education K-12 Education

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Nov 12, 2025

SB 10: An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, establishing the Pennsylvania Award for Student Success Scholarship Program and the Pennsylvania Award for Student Success Scholarship Fund.

SB 10 establishes the Pennsylvania Award for Student Success Scholarship Program (PASS), providing financial assistance to low-income students attending nonpublic schools. It directly affects eligible students in Pennsylvania who live in households below 250% of the federal poverty level, attend or reside within the attendance boundary of a low-achieving public school, and have not earned a high school diploma. The program, administered by the State Treasury starting in the 2026-2027 school year, covers tuition, school-related fees, and special education services at participating nonpublic schools. School districts must notify parents of eligible students about the program within 15 days of a school being designated "low-achieving."

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesEstablishes state-funded scholarship program (PASS) for low-income students, increasing education budget allocation through State Treasury administration.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates PASS scholarship program funding low-income students in nonpublic schools, expanding educational access and providing direct financial support for underserved populations.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education School Choice Student Financial Aid

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Jan 27, 2025

HB 360: An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in postsecondary institution sexual harassment and sexual violence policy and online reporting system, further providing for policy for postsecondary institution sexual harassment and sexual violence.

HB 360 requires Pennsylvania colleges and universities to adopt clear written policies addressing sexual harassment and sexual violence. These policies must inform victims of their legal rights, meet or exceed a state model, include specific investigation timelines, and provide protections for victims and witnesses during investigations. The bill directly affects all postsecondary institutions in Pennsylvania by mandating standardized, legally compliant procedures for handling such incidents. It does not change criminal law or provide new victim services, but sets requirements for institutional policy and process. The bill is pending in the Education Committee as introduced in January 2025.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates standardized safety policies for postsecondary institutions, enhancing student protection and institutional accountability in educational settings.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House May 12, 2025

HB 1401: 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 educator preparation admission.

House Bill 1401 amends the Public School Code of 1949 by establishing new admission requirements for educator preparation programs. It mandates that applicants for initial preparation programs leading to a bachelor's degree must have completed at least 48 college credit hours with a minimum 2.8 GPA. Applicants for alternative programs must hold a bachelor's degree with a 2.8 GPA, and advanced program applicants need a 2.8 GPA along with professional recommendations. Preparing institutions may admit up to 10% of initial preparation applicants who do not meet the GPA requirement, provided other eligibility criteria are met. These provisions directly affect individuals aspiring to become teachers and the institutions that train them.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationSets minimum academic standards (48 credits, 2.8 GPA) for teacher preparation programs, strengthening educator quality and aligning with supporting educators.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Teachers

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Feb 20, 2025

HB 613: 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, further providing for comparison tool.

HB 613 amends Pennsylvania's Public School Code to require a public comparison tool for higher education institutions to include each school's endowment data. This change directly affects students, families, and researchers who use the tool to compare colleges, as it adds financial transparency about institutional resources. The bill mandates that the existing comparison tool must allow users to identify and compare institutions based on endowment size, alongside other metrics. It does not alter college operations or funding but expands available data for informed decision-making. The requirement becomes effective 60 days after enactment.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates endowment transparency in college comparison tool, enhancing access to financial data for informed educational decisions.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education

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