Education

in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Aug 26, 2026

SB 1445: An Act amending the act of April 9, 1929 (P.L.343, No.176), known as The Fiscal Code, providing for the Pennsylvania Learning Investment Tax Credit Program.

Pennsylvania SB 1445 establishes the Learning Investment Tax Credit Program, which provides a refundable tax credit of $8,000 per child for qualified education expenses. The program is available to parents or legal guardians with annual incomes up to 300% of the area median gross income who have school-age children not enrolled in public schools. Eligible expenses include private school tuition, textbooks, tutoring, educational software, and standardized test fees. The total amount of credits awarded is capped at $300 million per fiscal year, with a mechanism to increase this cap by 25% if the previous year's usage reaches 90% of the limit.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill creates a tax credit for private education expenses, expanding educational access and funding options for families not in public schools.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education School Choice Testing & Assessment

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Aug 10, 2026

SB 1421: An Act amending Title 75 (Vehicles) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in general provisions relating to traffic-control devices, providing for automated road safety monitoring systems.

Pennsylvania Senate Bill 1421 authorizes municipalities to install automated cameras in school zones to enforce traffic laws, specifically targeting failures to stop at signs or yield to pedestrians. The bill imposes a $50 fine on the registered vehicle owner rather than the driver, with a mandatory 30-day warning period before fines are issued. It requires that all revenue generated from these fines be reinvested into local road safety projects, such as sidewalk improvements and traffic signal upgrades. Additionally, the legislation mandates strict privacy protections, including the blurring of pedestrian faces in images and prohibiting the use of camera data for general surveillance or sale to third parties.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill mandates cameras in school zones to protect pedestrians and reinvests fines into local safety infrastructure, indirectly supporting student safety.65% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill mandates reinvestment of fine revenue into local road safety projects like sidewalks and signals, directly funding transportation infrastructure.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Pedestrian Safety Roads & Highways Traffic Safety

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Aug 13, 2026

SR 356: A Resolution designating the week of August 17 through 23, 2026, as "Social Media Safety and Parental Awareness Week" in Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania Senate Resolution 356 designates the week of August 17 through 23, 2026, as "Social Media Safety and Parental Awareness Week." The resolution cites rising statistics on online child exploitation, including sextortion and the use of artificial intelligence for abuse, to highlight the need for greater vigilance. It encourages educational programming and public awareness efforts aimed at protecting minors from these digital threats as students prepare to return to school.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationThe resolution explicitly encourages educational programming and awareness efforts in schools to protect students from digital threats.75% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyThe bill promotes awareness and education regarding online child safety and digital threats, aligning with the goal of protecting users in the technology sector.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Artificial Intelligence Online Safety Social Media

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Jul 9, 2026

SB 1411: An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in school health services, providing for school-based health centers.

This bill establishes school-based health centers in Pennsylvania public, private, and parochial schools to provide accessible medical care to students. These centers must remain open during school hours and cannot deny care based on a student's ability to pay, insurance status, or existing primary care provider. While the specific services offered are determined by the school district or private governing body, the centers are required to coordinate with outside providers and maintain strict confidentiality for medical records. Additionally, the legislation creates a statewide advisory council to oversee these centers and mandates that the state education department develop regulations in consultation with stakeholders.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill establishes school-based health centers to improve student well-being and access to care, directly enhancing the educational environment.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill establishes school-based health centers to improve student access to medical care regardless of ability to pay or insurance status.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Health Primary Care

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Jul 9, 2026

SB 1418: 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 hunting and trapping education; and imposing duties on the Department of Education and the Pennsylvania Game Commission.

This bill amends Pennsylvania's Public School Code to require the Department of Education and the Pennsylvania Game Commission to create a model program for hunting and trapping education for students in grades six through twelve. The program must include age-appropriate firearm safety instruction covering topics like safe handling, maintenance, and wildlife conservation, taught only by certified instructors without bringing actual firearms onto school property. Schools can offer this as an optional extracurricular class or integrate it into existing courses, and parents may request to excuse their children from the instruction without penalty. Additionally, the bill allows schools to receive reimbursement for program costs and counts related training hours toward staff professional development.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill expands educational curriculum by mandating a new hunting and trapping education program with safety instruction for K-12 students.85% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill mandates wildlife conservation education and firearm safety, fostering respect for natural resources and promoting conservation awareness among students.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Wildlife

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Jul 10, 2026

SB 1419: An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, providing for Pennsylvania Robotics Team Support Grant Program; and establishing the Pennsylvania Robotics Team Support Grant Program Fund.

This bill creates the Pennsylvania Robotics Team Support Grant Program to provide financial assistance to K-12 school districts and intermediate units for their robotics teams. The program establishes a dedicated fund that will be initially seeded with $2.5 million from the state, along with future contributions and interest earnings. To qualify for grants, eligible applicants must demonstrate partnerships with local businesses or educational institutions, secure a 25% local match for the funding, and participate in both virtual and in-person robotics competitions. Awarded funds can be used for coaching stipends capped at $1,500 per school building, competition travel and materials, and bonuses for teams advancing to higher competition levels, with a maximum grant limit of $10,000 per team per year. The Department of Education will manage the application process and publish annual reports on grant usage and recipient information.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill creates a grant program to fund K-12 robotics teams, directly increasing educational resources and student programs.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill establishes a grant program to fund K-12 robotics teams, directly advancing technology education and digital skills in schools.90% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Jul 8, 2026

SB 1406: An Act amending the act of March 4, 1971 (P.L.6, No.2), known as the Tax Reform Code of 1971, in tax credit and tax benefit administration, further providing for definitions; and providing for Keystone Literacy Investment Tax Credit.

This bill creates a new tax incentive program called the Keystone Literacy Investment Tax Credit to fund evidence-based reading instruction in Pennsylvania public schools. The program allows insurance companies and their holding companies to purchase tax credits from the state, which they can then use to offset their own insurance premiums tax liability. The Department of Community and Economic Development will sell up to $150 million in these credits by January 2027, with the funds designated for literacy programs. Qualified taxpayers can begin applying the credits against their tax bills starting in 2029, with an annual cap on the total amount of credits that can be used set at $50 million.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill creates a new tax credit program to fund evidence-based reading instruction in public schools, directly advancing education funding through fiscal mechanisms.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill creates a tax credit to fund evidence-based reading instruction in public schools, directly increasing resources for education.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Tax Credits Tax Incentives

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Jul 15, 2026

HB 2698: 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 youth suicide awareness and prevention and providing for violence prevention and social isolation awareness.

This Pennsylvania bill requires public and private schools to teach students in grades six through twelve about suicide prevention and violence awareness, while also introducing social isolation education for students from kindergarten through grade twelve. To support these requirements, the state education department must create and publish a list of evidence-based, age-appropriate curricula that schools can use to deliver at least one hour of instruction annually. The materials must cover identifying warning signs, seeking help, and reporting dangerous behavior, with the option for schools to combine these lessons into a single class period. Additionally, the legislation allows for the establishment of student-led violence prevention clubs to further promote safety within school communities.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill mandates suicide prevention and violence awareness education, expanding student support programs and enhancing school safety initiatives.90% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education School Safety Student Health

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Jul 15, 2026

HB 2697: 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 exceptional children and education and training.

This bill modifies Pennsylvania's Public School Code to clarify who must prove their case during special education disputes. Specifically, it states that school districts generally bear the burden of proof in due process hearings involving exceptional children, unless the parents unilaterally chose a private school placement, in which case the parents must provide the proof. The law applies to situations concerning a child's identification, evaluation, classification, placement, or disciplinary actions. The changes are designed to streamline legal procedures by explicitly defining these responsibilities rather than leaving them open to interpretation.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill clarifies burden of proof in special education disputes, strengthening protections for exceptional children and ensuring fair access to education services.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Special Education

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Jun 5, 2026

SB 1362: An Act providing for the Milk Dispensary School Pilot Program; awarding grants; establishing the Milk Dispensary School Pilot Program Account; and imposing duties on the Department of Agriculture.

This bill establishes a ten-year pilot program in Pennsylvania to provide grants for schools to install milk dispensary systems that serve whole milk without packaging. The Department of Agriculture, working with the Center for Dairy Excellence, will manage the program by reviewing applications and funding eligible public and nonpublic schools that participate in federal nutrition programs. Grant recipients must prioritize waste reduction, serve low-income students, source milk locally, and share data on their results. To ensure safety and compliance, the program requires all systems to meet state and federal food standards while schools report quarterly data on milk usage and waste reduction.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill provides grants to schools for milk dispensary systems, improving student nutrition and reducing waste, which supports educational access and infrastructure.85% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill mandates waste reduction and local sourcing for milk dispensary systems, directly reducing packaging waste and supporting environmental conservation.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Health

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