Pennsylvania 2025-2026 Regular Session

Pennsylvania Senate Bill SB315

Introduced
2/26/25  
Refer
2/26/25  
Refer
3/26/25  
Report Pass
4/1/25  
Engrossed
4/2/25  
Refer
4/3/25  

Caption

In career and technical education, further providing for career and technical education equipment grants.

Impact

The implications of SB315 are significant for the landscape of career and technical education in Pennsylvania. By formalizing a process whereby the Department of Education must update grant calculations based on accurate, current data, this bill supports the procurement of necessary equipment for CTE programs. This is crucial for preparing students with hands-on experience and skill sets that are currently in demand in the workforce. Thus, it not only affects schools but also has potential positive ramifications for local economies through improved workforce readiness.

Summary

Senate Bill 315 aims to amend the Public School Code of 1949, specifically focusing on the provisions regarding career and technical education (CTE) equipment grants. The bill proposes that the Pennsylvania Department of Education utilize the most recent available data for calculating allocations for these grants, ensuring accuracy in funding for educational equipment. Additionally, it stipulates that the department should make corrections to the calculated data should inaccuracies be identified. This change is intended to enhance the current framework around funding CTE programs, making them more responsive to the actual needs of schools.

Sentiment

The overall sentiment surrounding SB315 appears to be supportive, particularly among educators and advocates of technical education. Proponents believe that by ensuring equitable and precise distribution of funding, the bill will improve educational outcomes in CTE programs and facilitate better job preparation for students. Although no significant opposition was noted in the discussions, some concerns may arise regarding the implementation of data accuracy and whether it can adapt quickly to the ever-changing educational landscape.

Contention

While there are no notable points of contention currently surrounding SB315, a potential area for debate could emerge regarding the definition of 'most recent data' and how it is collected. Different stakeholders might have varying views on what constitutes 'accurate' data and could debate the processes used by the Department of Education to revise calculations. However, these discussions would likely emerge during the implementation phase rather than in the legislative process.

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

PA SB1342

In career and technical education, further providing for career and technical education equipment grants.

PA HB52

Providing for the Career and Technical Education Investment Incentive Program.

PA SB366

In reimbursements by Commonwealth and between school districts, further providing for payments on account of pupils enrolled in career and technical curriculums.

PA SB826

In talent recruitment, further providing for Talent Recruitment Account; establishing the Grow-Your-Own Educators Grant Program and grow-your-own educator career pathways; and imposing duties on the Department of Education.

PA HB141

In talent recruitment, further providing for Talent Recruitment Account; and establishing the Grow-Your-Own Educators Grant Program and grow-your-own educator career pathways; and imposing duties of the Department of Education.

PA SB1057

Providing for the Educational Freedom Act Program; and establishing the Educational Freedom Act Fund and educational freedom accounts.

PA HB2398

In transfers of credits between institutions of higher education, further providing for definitions and for duties of public institutions of higher education, providing for guaranteed admission, for reports to General Assembly and for dispute resolution and further providing for Transfer and Articulation Oversight Committee, for duties of department and for applicability; in higher education accountability and transparency, further providing for definitions and providing for student fee transparency; and providing for institutions of higher education and Dual Credit Innovation and Equity Grant Program.

PA HB2063

In educational tax credits, further providing for definitions and for qualification and application by organizations.

PA SB700

In preliminary provisions, providing for advertising and sponsorships; in intermediate units, further providing for school safety and security enhancements; in professional employees, further providing for qualifications; in certification of teachers, further providing for State certificates, for career and technical instruction and for baccalaureate certification basic skills assessment; in Educator Pipeline Support Grant Program, further providing for definitions, for program establishment and duties of agency, for eligibility and for report; in school safety and security, further providing for School Safety and Security Grant Program, for school safety and security coordinator, for Targeted School Safety Grants for Nonpublic Schools and School Entities Program and for school safety and security training and providing for school safety and mental health grants for 2024-2025 school year; in school security, further providing for duties of commission, providing for school security personnel and establishing School Security Personnel Fund; in school security, further providing for duties of commission and providing for school security personnel and for School Security Personnel Fund; in school health services, further providing for vision screening and examinations; in Drug and Alcohol Recovery High School Program, further providing for establishment and payment of tuition; in administrative partnerships between school entities, further providing for legislative intent and for definitions, providing for instructional programming partnerships authorized, for school district feasibility study and for construction and further providing for establishment, for application, for grant awards, for technical assistance, for reports by school entities and for reports by department; in talent recruitment, further providing for Talent Recruitment Account; in charter schools, further providing for definitions, for charter school requirements, for powers of board of trustees, for facilities and for funding for charter schools, providing for funding for cyber charter schools, further providing for enrollment and notification and providing for enrollee wellness checks and for applicability of other provisions of this act and of other acts and regulations; in disability inclusive curriculum, further providing for department responsibilities; in Schools-to-Work-Program, repealing provisions relating to expiration; in community colleges, further providing for financial program and reimbursement of payments; in educational tax credits, further providing for definitions, for qualification and application by organizations, for tax credits and for limitations, repealing provisions relating to opportunity scholarships and providing for economically disadvantaged school scholarships; in course materials at institutions of higher education, repealing provisions relating to College Textbook Policies Advisory Committee; in sexual violence, dating violence, domestic violence and stalking education, prevention and response at institutions of higher education and private licensed schools, further providing for memorandum of understanding; in miscellaneous provisions relating to institutions of higher education, repealing provisions relating to Public Higher Education Funding Commission; in funding for public libraries, providing for State aid for fiscal year 2024-2025; in reimbursements by Commonwealth and between school districts, further providing for payments on account of pupils enrolled in career and technical curriculums and for student-weighted basic education funding, providing for student-weighted basic education funding beginning with 2023-2024 school year, further providing for State reimbursement for health services, for payments to intermediate units, for assistance to school districts declared to be in financial recovery status or identified for financial watch status and for Commonwealth reimbursements for charter schools and cyber charter schools, repealing provisions relating to administrative and instructional consolidation incentives and further providing for Ready-to-Learn Block Grant; in State Board of Education, further providing for powers and duties of the board; in construction and renovation of buildings by school entities, further providing for applicability; in School Environmental Repairs Program, further providing for School Environmental Repairs Program Restricted Account and for School Environmental Repairs Program; and making editorial changes.

PA SB661

In educational tax credits, further providing for limitations.

Similar Bills

No similar bills found.