Pennsylvania 2023-2024 Regular Session

Pennsylvania Senate Bill SB647

Introduced
4/21/23  
Refer
4/21/23  
Refer
5/3/23  
Report Pass
5/8/23  
Engrossed
5/9/23  

Caption

In terms and courses of study, further providing for Economic Education and Personal Financial Literacy Programs; in credit card marketing, further providing for regulation of on-campus credit card marketing; and abrogating regulations.

Impact

This legislation represents a significant shift in educational policy by formally integrating personal financial literacy into the school system's curriculum. The requirement for a standardized personal finance course ensures that all students, regardless of their school type, will learn essential skills needed for financial independence and responsible money management. Additionally, it aims to eliminate inconsistencies in educational content about financial literacy across the state, thereby promoting a more informed and financially literate population.

Summary

Senate Bill 647 aims to enhance economic education and personal financial literacy within public and private schools in Pennsylvania. The bill mandates the Department of Education to provide resources, develop model curricula, and distribute them to school entities. It also requires all school entities and nonpublic schools to implement a mandatory course in personal financial literacy by the 2026-2027 school year, ensuring that students receive foundational knowledge about managing personal finances, understanding credit, and budgeting.

Sentiment

The general sentiment surrounding SB 647 is largely positive, particularly from educators and financial literacy advocates who see it as a vital step in equipping students with necessary real-world skills. Proponents argue that increased financial literacy can lead to better economic decisions and overall financial well-being among young adults. However, there are concerns regarding the implementation costs and whether all schools will have the resources to effectively deliver this new curriculum.

Contention

Some points of contention include apprehensions about the adequacy of resources and training for educators who will be teaching this new curriculum. Questions have also been raised regarding the necessity of further regulations on credit card marketing on campuses, as the bill seeks to regulate how financial institutions promote their products to students. Critics express concerns that without proper implementation and support, the objectives of the bill may not be fully realized, possibly leading to disparities in the quality of financial education provided.

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

PA SB843

In preliminary provisions, further providing for Special Education Funding Commission, for Basic Education Funding Commission and for Commission on Education and Economic Competitiveness and providing for public job posting database, for instructional vacancy data and for data transparency; providing for Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact; in drug and alcohol recovery high school program, further providing for scope of program and selection of students, providing for enrollment of students and further providing for academic programs; in terms and courses of study, further providing for Economic Education and Personal Financial Literacy Programs; in early learning programs, providing for quarterly reporting; in high schools, further providing for attendance in other districts; in educational tax credits, further providing for definitions; in credit card marketing, further providing for regulation of on-campus credit card marketing; in reimbursements by Commonwealth and between school districts, further providing for assistance to school districts declared to be in financial recovery status or identified for financial watch status; and abrogating regulations.

PA HB1884

In high schools, further providing for courses of study; and abrogating regulations.

PA SB1162

In terms and courses of study, providing for computer science education; and abrogating a regulation.

PA HB2567

In terms and courses of study, providing for computer science education; and abrogating a regulation.

PA SB454

In terms and courses of study, further providing for physical education.

PA HB27

In preliminary provisions, further providing for Basic Education Funding Commission and for special provisions applicable to limited school years, establishing the Child Reunification Program in the Department of Education and providing for minimum number of days or hours, for public job posting database, for instructional vacancy data and for data transparency; in duties and powers of boards of school directors, further providing for additional schools and departments; in school finances, providing for school district budget timeline for 2024 and for procedure for securing approval of electors; in grounds and buildings, further providing for limitation on new applications for Department of Education approval of public school building projects; in school directors' associations and county boards of school directors, further providing for powers and duties; in intermediate units, further providing for visual services and for school safety and security enhancements; in professional employees, repealing provisions relating to religious garb, insignia, etc., prohibited and penalty; in certification of teachers, further providing for substitute teaching permit for prospective teachers, for locally issued temporary certification for substitute teachers and for permit for classroom monitors; providing for Educator Pipeline Support Grant Program; in pupils and attendance, further providing for compulsory education of physical defectives, for dependent children, for cost of tuition and maintenance of certain exceptional children in approved institutions, for payment of cost of tuition and maintenance of certain exceptional children, for transfer of funds for transferal programs and for children under six with defective hearing and parent or guardian advised of schools, etc.; in safe schools, further providing for definitions and for Office for Safe Schools, repealing provisions relating to regulations and to reporting, further providing for policy relating to bullying and for maintenance of records, repealing provisions relating to safe schools advocate in school districts of the first class, to standing, to enforcement and to construction of article and other laws; in school safety and security, further providing for definitions and for School Safety and Security Committee, providing for duties of committee, further providing for School Safety and Security Grant Program, providing for Targeted School Safety Grants for Nonpublic Schools and School Entities Program, for standardized protocols, for county safe schools' collaborative and for school mental health grants for 2023-2024 school year, further providing for school safety and security coordinator training and providing for reporting and memorandum of understanding, for safe schools advocate in school districts of the first class and for enforcement; in school security, further providing for definitions, for school police officers, for annual report and for school security guards; in school health services, further providing for dental examinations and dental hygiene services and providing for eating disorder awareness and education; in drug and alcohol recovery high school program, providing for enrollment of students; in terms and courses of study, providing for calculation of average daily membership for a dual credit course and further providing for Economic Education and Personal Financial Literacy Programs; in early learning programs, providing for quarterly meetings; in character education program, further providing for character education program; providing for the Dual Credit Innovation and Equity Grant Program; in high schools, further providing for attendance in other districts; in community colleges, further providing for financial program and reimbursement of payments; in educational tax credits, further providing for qualification and application by organizations, for limitations and for low-achieving schools; in school districts of the first class, further providing for qualifications of principals and teachers; in funding for public libraries, providing for State aid for fiscal year 2023-2024; in credit card marketing, further providing for regulation of on-campus credit card marketing; in reimbursements by Commonwealth and between school districts, further providing for definitions and for payments on account of pupils enrolled in career and technical curriculums, providing for Level-Up Supplement for 2022-2023 school year, further providing for payments on account of courses for exceptional children, for payments to intermediate units, for assistance to school districts declared to be in financial recovery status or identified for financial watch status, for payments, for payments on account of pupil transportation, for Ready-to-Learn Block Grant and for payment of required contribution for public school employees' Social Security; in construction and renovation of buildings by school entities, further providing for applicability; providing for School Environmental Repairs Program; abrogating a regulation; and making an editorial change.

PA SB589

In terms and courses of study, further providing for physical education.

PA HB332

In terms and courses of study, providing for media literacy education.

PA HB473

In terms and courses of study, providing for media literacy education.

PA SB496

In terms and courses of study, providing for media literacy education.

Similar Bills

CA AB2284

Pupil instruction: digital literacy and media literacy grant program.

LA SB222

Provides relative to early literacy. (8/1/21) (EN SEE FISC NOTE GF EX See Note)

CA SB135

Pupil instruction: media literacy: model curriculum.

CA AB2465

Pupil instruction: third-grade literacy: literacy grant program.

LA HB911

Provides relative to early literacy (EN INCREASE LF EX See Note)

CA SB830

Pupil instruction: media literacy: resources.

MI HB4961

Education: curriculum; environmental literacy task force to develop environmental literacy model curriculum and report on the curriculum; provide for. Amends 1976 PA 451 (MCL 380.1 - 380.1852) by adding sec. 1159.

MI SR0141

A resolution to recognize October 2024 as Health Literacy Month.