Education (K-12 Education)

in committee · Pennsylvania · House Apr 23, 2025

HB 1288: 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 foreign language.

HB 1288 requires Pennsylvania public schools to provide foreign language instruction for all students in kindergarten through grade twelve starting in the 2026-2027 school year. The state Department of Education must develop a toolkit and curriculum guidelines for teaching foreign languages by that time. School districts will then create their own foreign language programs using this state-developed resource, with flexibility to choose a language that aligns with their community's demographics.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates foreign language curriculum expansion for all K-12 students, requiring state-developed resources to enhance educational programming and access.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum K-12 Education

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Apr 2, 2025

SB 541: 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.

This bill requires all Pennsylvania public schools to install panic alert systems in every building where students receive instruction during the school day. These systems must silently notify local law enforcement directly during security emergencies like active threats or lockdowns, with activation via devices such as buttons or apps. The law takes effect July 1, 2026, and is named Alyssa's Law. It applies specifically to public elementary, middle, and high school campuses, not private or parochial schools.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRequires panic alert systems in public schools for safety, enhancing student/staff protection during emergencies in educational settings.90% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education School Safety

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Feb 3, 2025

SB 220: 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 instructional certificate grade spans and age levels; and making an editorial change.

SB 220 amends Pennsylvania's teacher certification rules under the Public School Code by establishing specific grade spans and age ranges for instructional certificates. It creates five defined certificate types: Early Childhood (pre-K-grade 4/ages 3-9), Elementary (K-grade 6/ages 4-11), Middle (grades 6-9/ages 11-15), Secondary (grades 7-12/ages 11-21), and Specialized (pre-K-grade 12/ages 3-21). These changes apply to new certificates issued after December 31, 2025, while existing certificates remain valid. Teachers with current Elementary/Middle certificates may expand their scope through continuing education or PRAXIS assessments.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill clarifies teacher certification standards with defined grade spans, strengthening educator qualifications under Pennsylvania's Public School Code to improve instructional consistency and teacher effectiveness.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Early Childhood K-12 Education Teachers

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Mar 3, 2025

HB 778: 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 Pre-K Teacher Salary Supplement Pilot Program.

HB 778 establishes a three-year pilot program to increase pre-kindergarten (Pre-K) teacher salaries in Pennsylvania to match those of elementary school teachers with similar qualifications. It directly affects Pre-K teachers working in programs located in high-poverty areas (school districts with ≥20% poverty or census tracts at ≤80% of the statewide median poverty level). The program requires the Department of Education to calculate salary gaps using a specific formula, provide subsidies to eligible Pre-K programs to close those gaps, and collect data for a legislative report. The bill mandates strict use of funds solely for teacher salary increases and includes requirements for reporting program outcomes to the legislature.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allocates state funds for Pre-K teacher salary supplements in high-poverty districts, directly increasing public education funding through mandated subsidies.92% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationIncreases Pre-K teacher salaries in high-poverty areas via subsidy program, directly supporting educators and improving educational access in underserved communities.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentDirectly increases Pre-K teacher compensation in high-poverty areas by requiring salary matching with elementary teachers, advancing wage standards for educators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Early Childhood K-12 Education Teachers

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House May 2, 2025

HB 1373: 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, further providing for assessment of civic knowledge.

HB 1373 requires Pennsylvania high schools to administer the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services Test as a civic knowledge assessment to students in grades 7-12 starting in the 2026-2027 school year. Students must score at least 60% on this test to meet a high school graduation requirement. Schools must report compliance data, including participation and passing rates, to the state education department every other year. The bill specifically exempts students with individualized education programs (IEPs) if their IEPs indicate they are not required to take the test.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates civic knowledge assessment as graduation requirement, strengthening curriculum standards and student civic education in K-12 schools.95% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education Testing & Assessment

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Feb 20, 2025

HR 80: A Resolution urging the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Education to collaborate on conducting a Statewide study of school cafeteria services provided to every school district.

This resolution urges Pennsylvania's Department of Agriculture and Department of Education to jointly conduct a statewide study of school cafeteria services across all school districts. The study would establish meal quality standards (including portion sizes and vegetarian/vegan options by grade level), compare current meals to those standards, analyze preparation and student meal costs, and recommend legislative actions to improve nutrition. It requires the departments to issue a public report with findings and recommendations within one year. The resolution directly affects all Pennsylvania public school districts by initiating a formal review of meal services and costs.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill mandates study to establish school meal quality standards, improve nutrition, and recommend legislative actions - directly advancing student health and educational access within K-12 schools.90% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education Student Health

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House May 6, 2025

HB 1398: 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 grading, classification and promotion of pupils.

This bill amends Pennsylvania's Public School Code to update grading policies in public schools. It requires school districts to establish grading systems that reflect a student's actual mastery of assignments, prohibits teachers from assigning minimum grades without considering work quality, and allows students to retake failing assignments for a revised grade. These changes apply to all public school students and teachers in Pennsylvania. The bill takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill mandates mastery-based grading, prohibits arbitrary minimum grades, and allows assignment retakes to improve student learning outcomes, directly strengthening educational assessment practices.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum K-12 Education Testing & Assessment

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Mar 3, 2025

HB 794: 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.

HB 794 amends Pennsylvania's Public School Code to clarify the definition of community colleges and update the State Board of Education's authority over them. The bill defines "community college" to include institutions offering two-year programs, career education, college-parallel courses, and services for high school students. It requires the State Board to set standards for facilities, curriculum, faculty, admission, and student enrollment, while allowing community colleges to award a bachelor's degree in nursing to students with an associate nursing degree. These changes directly affect Pennsylvania community colleges and their students by standardizing operations and expanding degree options.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationClarifies community college definitions, sets standards for curriculum/facilities, and enables bachelor's degree offerings, expanding educational access and strengthening oversight in higher education.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum Higher Education K-12 Education

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Mar 3, 2025

HB 776: 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, further providing for assessment of civic knowledge.

HB 776 requires Pennsylvania high school students to score at least 60% on a civic knowledge assessment to graduate or earn a general equivalency diploma, starting in the 2028-2029 school year. The bill amends the Public School Code to add this graduation requirement, which applies to all students except those with an individualized education program (IEP) if their IEP specifies an exemption. The assessment measures knowledge of civic topics like government structure and citizenship. This policy directly affects all Pennsylvania public high school students seeking graduation or a general equivalency diploma.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates civic knowledge assessment for graduation, strengthening curriculum standards and student civic education under Pennsylvania's Public School Code.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum K-12 Education Testing & Assessment

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Aug 4, 2025

HB 1770: 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 supplemental mathematics program for kindergarten through grade five.

HB 1770 amends Pennsylvania's Public School Code to require public schools to offer an additional math program for students in kindergarten through fifth grade. This program would provide extra math instruction to help young students build foundational math skills during their early school years. The bill directly affects all K-5 public schools in Pennsylvania and the state education department, which would be responsible for developing and overseeing the program. It adds a specific requirement to the state's educational standards without changing existing curriculum structures.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates supplemental math program for K-5, enhancing foundational skills and strengthening early math education requirements in public schools.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum K-12 Education

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