Education (School Funding)

in committee · Pennsylvania · House Jun 16, 2026

HB 2633: An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in construction and renovation of buildings by school entities, repealing provisions relating to maintenance program and to building condition assessments and further providing for project reimbursement and for applicability.

HB 2633 amends Pennsylvania's Public School Code to change how school districts are funded for building construction, maintenance, and renovations. The bill repeals existing grant programs for maintenance projects and building condition assessments, replacing them with a new reimbursement system that calculates payments based on enrollment, building capacity, and local wealth factors. Under the new rules, school entities would receive reimbursement over 20 years for approved projects, with a requirement to match 50% of the cost using local funds unless the project is an emergency. These changes apply to projects seeking approval beginning July 1, 2026, while allowing districts to retroactively seek approval for projects not yet completed by that date.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill establishes a new reimbursement system for school construction and renovations, ensuring continued funding for critical school infrastructure.85% confidence

Sub-Topics School Funding

Track

in committee · Pennsylvania · House Jun 16, 2026

HB 2634: 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, further providing for funding for charter schools and for funding for cyber charter schools.

This bill updates Pennsylvania's Public School Code to clarify how state funding is distributed to charter and cyber charter schools. It establishes a specific formula where local school districts must pay charter schools based on the per-student cost of operating the district's own programs, adjusted annually by wage and employment cost indices. The legislation also sets up a process where the state education secretary can deduct unpaid amounts from a district's state funds if the district fails to pay the charter school on time. These changes aim to ensure that charter schools receive consistent and predictable funding from the districts where their students reside.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill clarifies and establishes a specific funding formula for charter schools, ensuring they receive state funds based on per-student costs.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill clarifies and establishes a funding formula for charter and cyber charter schools, ensuring financial resources for educational access.90% confidence

Sub-Topics School Choice School Funding

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passed · Pennsylvania · House Jun 22, 2026

HB 2307: An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in reimbursements by Commonwealth and between school districts, further providing for extraordinary special education program expenses.

This bill creates a new funding mechanism for Pennsylvania school districts and charter schools to cover extraordinary special education expenses for students with disabilities. It allocates one percent of the state special education appropriation annually from 2016-2017 through 2025-2026, then increases this to two percent starting in 2026-2027, with specific rules for how funds are distributed based on student enrollment duration and expense levels. The legislation covers costs for specialized services including transportation, therapy, and mobility training, while establishing caps and prioritization rules to ensure equitable distribution across districts.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill creates new funding mechanism for special education expenses, increasing state appropriation allocation from 1% to 2% annually, directly supporting budget and education funding.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill establishes new funding mechanism for special education expenses, increasing allocation from 1% to 2% of state appropriation to support students with disabilities.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations School Funding Special Education

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Feb 4, 2026

HB 2169: An Act amending the act of April 9, 1929 (P.L.343, No.176), known as The Fiscal Code, making editorial changes to delete references to "approved private school" for the purpose of adding references to "approved special education school."

HB 2169 amends Pennsylvania's Fiscal Code to update terminology in funding provisions for special education schools. It replaces references to "approved private school" with "approved special education school" in Section 1923(5), which governs how funds from the Public School Code (Section 2509.8) are allocated. The bill directly affects approved special education schools with day tuition under $32,000, requiring funding to be no less than 175% of the 2015-2016 allocation. This is a technical correction to align statutory language with current educational terminology, with no change to the underlying funding mechanism or eligibility criteria.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill mandates 175% funding for special education schools, strengthening program support within Fiscal Code appropriations.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates minimum 175% funding for approved special education schools, updating terminology to ensure continued support and addressing allocation requirements.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education School Funding Special Education

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passed · Pennsylvania · House Jun 6, 2025

HB 1500: 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, providing for Cyber Charter School Funding and Policy Council and further providing for advertising and sponsorships; in pupils and attendance, further providing for exceptional children and education and training; in charter schools, further providing for definitions, for funding for cyber charter schools, for powers and duties of department and for assessment and evaluation, providing for fund balance limits, further providing for cyber charter school requirements and prohibitions, providing for cyber charter school fund balance accountability, further providing for establishment of cyber charter school, for cyber charter school application, for enrollment and notification, for enrollee wellness checks and for applicability of other provisions of this act and of other acts and regulations and providing for cyber charter school moratorium; and, in reimbursements by Commonwealth and between school districts, further providing for extraordinary special education program expenses.

HB 1500 establishes a Cyber Charter School Funding and Policy Council to develop recommendations on funding, governance, and accountability for cyber charter schools by April 2026. The bill requires public school entities to report advertising and sponsorship spending annually, and mandates detailed cost-tracking for special education services based on individualized student plans. It also adds provisions for student wellness checks, enrollment notifications, and fund balance limits for cyber charter schools, while maintaining a moratorium on new cyber charter school approvals. The law directly affects cyber charter schools, public school districts, and students with disabilities in Pennsylvania.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill mandates fund balance limits, cost-tracking for special education, and establishes a funding council for cyber charters, promoting fiscal accountability in state budget allocation for education.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationEstablishes cyber charter school funding framework, policy council, and accountability measures, advancing alternative school funding models and special education cost-tracking.85% confidence

Sub-Topics School Choice School Funding Special Education

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Jul 23, 2025

SB 951: 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 and for financial program and reimbursement of payments.

SB 951 modifies Pennsylvania's community college funding formula to prioritize enrollment in first responder training programs. It adds a new allocation method that counts students in credit first responder programs at 1.5 times their enrollment and noncredit programs at full value, distributing additional funds based on weighted enrollment across all colleges. This directly affects community colleges offering these programs and their students, as funding levels will depend on how many enroll in first responder training (both credit and noncredit courses). The bill changes how existing state funds are distributed rather than creating new funding, with the new formula applying starting in the 2025-2026 fiscal year.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesModifies funding formula to prioritize first responder programs via weighted enrollment (1.5x credit), increasing state allocations for these programs within community college budgets.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill modifies community college funding to prioritize first responder training programs, increasing financial support for these educational offerings through weighted enrollment allocations.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education School Funding

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Aug 15, 2025

SB 969: An Act amending Title 24 (Education) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, establishing the Educational Freedom for Families Program and the Teacher Excellence Incentive Fund; and imposing duties on the Department of Education and the State Treasurer.

SB 969 establishes Pennsylvania's "Educational Freedom for Families Program," providing state-funded education savings accounts for eligible students in the state's lowest-performing schools. The bill directly affects families with children in public schools ranked in the bottom 15% academically, allowing them to use funds for private school tuition, tutoring, homeschooling materials, or online programs. Key mechanisms include annual state appropriations matching per-pupil funding, portable accounts that follow students regardless of school choice, and strict oversight to prevent misuse. Additionally, the bill creates a "Teacher Excellence Incentive Fund" using reclaimed funds to award performance-based bonuses to educators based on measurable improvements in student test scores and graduation rates.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allocates state appropriations for education savings accounts, increasing public funding for education programs through new budgetary commitments.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationProvides state-funded education savings accounts for students in lowest-performing schools, expanding access to private school tuition, tutoring, and online programs.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education School Choice School Funding

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Jun 3, 2025

SB 791: An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in school finances, further providing for school districts lying in more than one county or in more than one municipality and limitation on total tax revenues.

SB 791 amends Pennsylvania's Public School Code to provide new methods for school districts that span multiple counties or municipalities to calculate and standardize property tax revenues. It directly affects these multi-jurisdictional school districts by offering four options to set uniform tax rates across counties, including using market value calculations or adhering to statewide assessment ratios. The key mechanisms include requiring tax ratios to be uniform across counties, allowing districts to select the lowest assessment ratio for consistency, or adopting uniform millage rates under specific conditions. This aims to simplify tax collection and ensure fair revenue distribution for districts operating across county lines.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill standardizes tax revenue calculations for multi-county school districts, improving funding structure and supporting equitable education funding.80% confidence

Sub-Topics School Funding Testing & Assessment

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate May 28, 2025

SB 799: 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, further providing for funding for charter schools.

SB 799 modifies Pennsylvania's Public School Code to clarify how charter schools receive state funding. It requires school districts to fund charter schools at a rate equal to the district's per-student spending (minus specific district expenses like transportation and facilities) for regular students, and adds a special education funding component based on district spending ratios. For cyber charter schools, the bill limits payments to nonaffiliated cyber charters to the maximum amount the district's own affiliated cyber school would receive. This directly affects charter schools (especially cyber charters) and school districts responsible for funding student placements. The changes aim to standardize funding calculations but do not alter overall funding levels.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesClarifies state funding allocation for charter schools, requiring districts to fund at per-student rates, ensuring consistent public education spending within budget framework.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationClarifies charter school funding to require district-level per-student spending, ensuring adequate financial support for charter schools.90% confidence

Sub-Topics School Funding Special Education

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signed · Pennsylvania · Senate Nov 12, 2025

SB 315: An act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), entitled "An act relating to the public school system, including certain provisions applicable as well to private and parochial schools; amending, revising, consolidating and changing the laws relating thereto," in preliminary provisions, further providing for Special Education Funding Commission and for minimum number of days or hours; in duties and powers of boards of school directors, providing for admission fees for school-sponsored activities; in intermediate units, further providing for staff; in certification of teachers, further providing for certificates qualifying persons to teach and for instructional certificate grade spans and age levels and duties of department, providing for instructional certificate grade spans and age levels and for State certificate fee reduction, further providing for standard employment application, for career and technical instructional certificate, for program of continuing professional and paraprofessional education and for postbaccalaureate certification, providing for assessment of basic skills, further providing for professional educator discipline fee and providing for career and technical administrative director certification flexibility; in pupils and attendance, further providing for attendance policy at charter, regional charter and cyber charter schools, for procedure when child is truant, for procedure by school when child habitually truant, for procedure upon filing of citation, for penalties for violating compulsory school attendance requirements and for study of truancy procedure, providing for department supports to prevent truancy and further providing for reports to Superintendent of Public Instruction and for exceptional children and education and training; in student supports, further providing for definitions; in school safety and security, further providing for definitions, for School Safety and Security Committee, for school safety and security assessment providers, for School Safety and Security Grant Program, for school safety and security coordinator and for school safety and security training, providing for school safety and mental health grants for 2025-2026 school year and further providing for reporting and memorandum of understanding; in school security, further providing for training, for school resource officers, for school security guards and for duties of commission; in Safe2Say Program, further providing for intent, for definitions, for Safe2Say Program and for annual report; in threat assessment, further providing for definitions, for threat assessment teams and for threat assessment guidelines, training and information materials; in Drug and Alcohol Recovery High School Program, further providing for scope of program and selection of students and for enrollment of students; in evidence-based reading instruction, further providing for definitions and providing for school entity duties related to evidence-based reading instruction, for school entity duties related to reading screening, for reading deficiency identification and parental notification, for reading intervention plans, for grant program, for funding, for reporting, for accountability and for construction; in high schools, further providing for attendance in other districts and providing for Free Application for Federal Student Aid; in interscholastic athletics accountability, further providing for council recommendations and standards; in charter schools, further providing for funding for cyber charter schools, for enrollment and notification and for enrollee wellness checks; in career and technical education, further providing for capital reserve fund for approved purchases of equipment and facility maintenance, for career and technical education equipment grants, for Cosmetology Training through Career and Technical Center Pilot Program and for Barber Training through Career and Technical Center Pilot Program; providing for Nursing Shortage Assistance Program; in community colleges, further providing for financial program and reimbursement of payments; in the State System of Higher Education, further providing for definitions and for Grow Pennsylvania Merit Scholarship Program; in educational tax credits, further providing for limitations; in higher education accountability and transparency, further providing for exit counseling; in miscellaneous provisions relating to institutions of higher education, repealing provisions relating to State-related university performance-based funding model, further providing for prohibition on scholarship displacement at public institutions of higher education and providing for cooperation and for State scholarship renewals; in institutions of higher education, further providing for powers and duties of State Board of Higher Education, for definitions, for Performance-based Funding Council and for public institution of higher education reporting, providing for State-related University Performance Fund, for performance-based funding formula and for public accountability and further providing for agency duties, for grant priority and for report; in Ready-to-Succeed Scholarship, further providing for agency; in funding for public libraries, providing for State aid for fiscal year 2025-2026; in reimbursements by Commonwealth and between school districts, further providing for student-weighted basic education funding beginning with 2023-2024 school year, for extraordinary special education program expenses, for assistance to school districts declared to be in financial recovery status or identified for financial watch status and for Ready-to-Learn Block Grant; in construction and renovation of buildings by school entities, further providing for applicability; abrogating regulations; and making an editorial change.

SB 315 amends Pennsylvania's 1949 education code to update school funding, safety, and instructional requirements. It establishes new school safety grants, updates teacher certification standards, and strengthens truancy prevention measures for all public and charter schools. The bill adds funding for career and technical education equipment, expands mental health support through school safety programs, and modifies higher education scholarship rules. As Act No. 47 of 2025, it became law on November 12, 2025, affecting students, teachers, school districts, and higher education institutions statewide.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates state funds for school safety grants, career education equipment, higher education scholarships, and library aid, increasing public education spending without tax changes.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationAdds school safety grants, updates teacher certification, funds career tech equipment, expands mental health support, and modifies higher education scholarships to strengthen education.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education K-12 Education School Funding