Pennsylvania 2025-2026 Regular Session

Pennsylvania House Bill HB1373

Introduced
5/2/25  

Caption

In high schools, further providing for assessment of civic knowledge.

Impact

Upon enactment, HB 1373 would position civic knowledge assessment as a critical component of Pennsylvania's high school educational framework. By introducing a standardized test in civics and history, it aims to enhance the quality of civic education among students. Schools would have the autonomy to determine how the assessment is administered while being urged to maintain a focus on constitutional principles and citizenship responsibilities. This shift is expected to bolster civic awareness and engagement among graduates, which proponents argue is essential for a functioning democracy.

Summary

House Bill 1373 aims to amend the Public School Code of 1949 by instituting a requirement for high school assessment of civic knowledge. The bill mandates that all school entities administer at least one assessment related to United States history, government, and civics to students in grades seven through twelve beginning with the 2026-2027 school year. This assessment can be satisfied by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services Test, and students must achieve a minimum score of sixty percent to meet graduation requirements. The bill also stipulates that students who achieve a perfect score will receive a certificate of recognition.

Sentiment

The general sentiment surrounding HB 1373 appears to be supportive, particularly among legislators advocating for enhanced civic engagement in schools. Proponents assert the necessity of equipping future generations with a solid understanding of civic duties, especially in a time when political awareness and participation are crucial. However, concerns have been raised about the implications of standardized testing on students with varied learning needs, suggesting that some stakeholders may object to the rigidity of such mandates in assessing civic knowledge.

Contention

Despite its well-intentioned goals, HB 1373 could face contention in terms of its implementation and effects on educational equity. Critics might argue that utilizing a standardized test like the USCIS test may not adequately measure civic understanding across diverse student populations, including those with individualized education plans. Furthermore, there could be debates about the adequacy of civic education currently being provided, with critics suggesting that the bill places undue emphasis on testing rather than fostering a holistic curriculum that promotes civic engagement.

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

PA HB1720

In high schools, further providing for assessment of civic knowledge.

PA HB259

In high schools, further providing for assessment of civic knowledge.

PA HB1826

In terms and courses of study, further providing for subjects of instruction and flag code and providing for voting rights instruction; and, in high schools, further providing for assessment of civic knowledge and providing for voter registration efforts.

PA HB887

In professional employees relating to revised rating system, further providing for definitions; and providing for Student-Centered Assessment Pilot Program.

PA HB2370

In preliminary provisions, providing for advertising and sponsorships; in charter schools, further providing for definitions, for charter school requirements and for funding for charter schools, providing for funding for cyber charter schools, for cyber charter school requirements, for powers and composition of board of trustees and for educational management service providers, further providing for powers and duties of department and for assessment and evaluation, providing for annual reports and public reporting and for fund balance limits, further providing for cyber charter school requirements and prohibitions and for school district and intermediate unit responsibilities, providing for access to other schools' facilities, further providing for establishment of cyber charter school, providing for renewals, for charter amendments and for causes for nonrenewal, revocation or termination, further providing for State Charter School Appeal Board review, for cyber charter school application and for enrollment and notification, providing for enrollment parameters and for enrollee wellness checks and further providing for applicability of other provisions of this act and of other acts and regulations; and, in reimbursements by Commonwealth and between school districts, further providing for student-weighted basic education funding, providing for adequacy and tax equity supplements and for accountability to Commonwealth taxpayers and further providing for Pennsylvania accountability grants.

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 HB1422

In preliminary provisions, providing for advertising and sponsorships; in charter schools, further providing for definitions and for funding for charter schools, providing for funding for cyber charter schools, for cyber charter school requirements, for powers and composition of board of trustees and for educational management service providers, further providing for powers and duties of department and for assessment and evaluation, providing for annual reports and public reporting and for fund balance limits, further providing for cyber charter school requirements and prohibitions and for school district and intermediate unit responsibilities, providing for access to other schools' facilities, further providing for establishment of cyber charter school, providing for renewals, for charter amendments and for causes for nonrenewal, revocation or termination, further providing for State Charter School Appeal Board review, for cyber charter school application and for enrollment and notification, providing for enrollment parameters and for enrollee wellness checks and further providing for applicability of other provisions of this act and of other acts and regulations.

PA SB1150

In the State System of Higher Education, further providing for definitions and providing for Grow Pennsylvania Merit Scholarship Program; providing for institutions of higher education, for Grow Pennsylvania Scholarship Grant Program and for intercollegiate athletics; in ready-to-succeed scholarship, further providing for agency; and making a repeal.

PA SB801

In certification of teachers, further providing for teacher

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.

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