Education (School Safety)

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 · Senate Jun 22, 2026

SB 1390: 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, providing for school mapping services.

This bill requires school districts in Pennsylvania that use state funding for mapping services to ensure their campus maps are compatible with emergency response software. The legislation mandates that these maps include detailed floor plans, accurate room labels, and verified data from onsite inspections while being stored securely within the United States. Before purchasing such services, districts must obtain written approval from their primary law enforcement agency to confirm the data meets specific safety standards.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill mandates improved campus maps for emergency response, enhancing school safety and infrastructure.85% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill mandates secure storage of campus maps within the US and compatibility with emergency response software, enhancing cybersecurity and data protection for schools.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education School Safety

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Jun 24, 2026

HB 2662: 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, further providing for permit for classroom monitors.

This bill amends Pennsylvania's Public School Code to extend the temporary program allowing students to serve as classroom monitors. It removes the June 30, 2026 expiration date for permits that let students under 18 work as monitors under teacher supervision. The change directly affects school districts and students by making the monitor program permanent rather than temporary.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill makes the student classroom monitor program permanent, expanding student involvement and support in schools.85% confidence

Sub-Topics School Safety Teachers

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Jun 10, 2026

HB 2602: 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 attendance policy at charter, regional charter and cyber charter schools; in charter schools, further providing for cyber charter school requirements and prohibitions and for enrollee wellness checks and providing for child protection and support plan; and imposing penalties.

This bill updates Pennsylvania's Public School Code to establish stricter attendance and safety rules specifically for cyber charter schools. It requires these schools to define clear policies for counting student presence during live online classes and completing weekly assignments for independent study, with penalties including funding withholding or charter revocation for non-compliance. Additionally, the legislation mandates that cyber charter schools implement wellness checks and create child protection plans to ensure student safety. The state education department will also develop standardized forms to help schools submit and approve these new attendance policies by a set deadline.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill strengthens student safety and attendance policies for cyber charter schools, protecting educational access and student welfare.85% confidence

Sub-Topics School Choice School Safety Student Health

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House May 6, 2026

HB 2486: 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 student mental health supports.

HB 2486 requires Pennsylvania public schools to create and share mental health support policies for students. The bill mandates that educators in grades six through twelve receive four hours of mental health training every five years. Additionally, the state Department of Education will develop model policies, training materials, and a curriculum to guide schools in identifying student needs and providing appropriate support.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill mandates mental health training for educators and requires schools to create support policies, directly enhancing student well-being and teacher capacity.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates mental health training for educators and requires schools to create support policies, directly advancing mental health services.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum School Safety Student Health Mental Health

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House May 6, 2026

HB 2487: An Act amending Title 23 (Domestic Relations) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in child protective services, providing for information for school districts.

This bill requires Pennsylvania's child protective services agencies to notify school principals, guidance counselors, or mental health professionals when a student has recently experienced a traumatic event. The law mandates that these agencies create specific procedures to share this information while strictly prohibiting the disclosure of confidential case details. By enabling schools to monitor affected students, the measure aims to ensure they can provide appropriate support without compromising privacy. The regulations will take effect 60 days after the bill is enacted.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill enables schools to monitor students experiencing trauma, allowing them to provide appropriate support and protect student well-being.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates notification to mental health professionals to support students after trauma, directly aiding mental health services.75% confidence

Sub-Topics School Safety Student Health Mental Health

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Mar 31, 2026

HB 2339: An Act amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in assault, further providing for the offense of aggravated assault.

This bill expands the legal definition of aggravated assault in Pennsylvania to include school staff members and crossing guards. Specifically, it adds teaching employees, school board members, licensed private school workers, parochial school employees, and school crossing guards to the list of individuals protected by aggravated assault laws. The change applies when these individuals are acting within the scope of their employment or due to their relationship with the school. If passed, the new provisions would take effect 60 days after the bill is enacted.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill strengthens criminal justice by expanding aggravated assault protections to school staff, enhancing safety and accountability.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill strengthens protection for school staff and crossing guards, enhancing safety for educators and school personnel.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Violent Crime School Safety

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Apr 21, 2026

HB 2438: 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, providing for school mapping services.

This bill requires school districts in Pennsylvania to follow specific guidelines when hiring vendors to create detailed maps of their campuses for emergency response purposes. The new rules mandate that these maps be accurate, include labeled floor plans and utility locations, and be compatible with existing public safety software without extra costs. Additionally, the data must be stored securely within the United States, and districts must obtain approval from local law enforcement before entering into such contracts.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill improves school infrastructure by mandating accurate emergency maps, enhancing campus safety and operational readiness.85% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill mandates secure US data storage for school mapping, enhancing cybersecurity and data privacy protections.85% confidence

Sub-Topics School Safety

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House May 6, 2026

HB 2485: 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 trauma-informed records program; and imposing a penalty.

This bill requires Pennsylvania schools participating in the School Safety and Security Grant Program to create electronic records tracking traumatic events and adverse childhood experiences for students. These records, overseen by a mental health professional or trained administrator, will include information from law enforcement, medical providers, and school support services, organized into three tiers of access to protect sensitive data. The legislation strictly limits how this information can be used, prohibiting its use for student admissions or in criminal proceedings while ensuring confidentiality. Schools must develop individualized support plans based on these records to better assist students affected by trauma, with access granted only to authorized staff and parents.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill establishes a trauma-informed records program to support student mental health and safety, enhancing educational access and well-being.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates trauma-informed records and integrates mental health professionals, directly supporting mental health services and student well-being.85% confidence

Sub-Topics School Safety Student Health Healthcare Workforce Mental Health

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Mar 30, 2026

HB 2338: An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, providing for safeguarding personal expression at K-12 schools.

This Pennsylvania bill, HB 2338, amends the Public School Code of 1949 to protect student expression in K-12 schools by requiring school entities to adopt policies safeguarding religious, political, and ideological speech. The legislation prohibits discrimination or penalties against students for expressing viewpoints in class, assignments, presentations, or student-led gatherings, provided such expression occurs in the same time, place, and manner as other students. While protecting student speech, the bill allows schools to restrict unprotected expression like threats, obscenity, or conduct that substantially disrupts school operations. Students who believe their rights are violated can file lawsuits seeking damages and other relief, with the state waiving immunity to allow such cases in federal court.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill protects student expression rights in K-12 schools, enhancing educational environment and safeguarding student speech without restricting curriculum or funding.85% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education School Safety

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